Pet Seminary E-Book

Sutherland Jeff

• Herausgeber: Infinity Books Ltd, Malta
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

Have you ever confronted a friend struggling with a problem and got the idea that you, too, struggle with a similar problem? Consoled a friend with cancer and found you might soon be handling it yourself? Helped a grieving widow, since you are a widow and know what she is going through? Corrected a child, only to have the Holy Spirit correct you about something similar? Struggled with a particular sin, only to turn around and immediately be able to help a friend with the exact same struggle? Felt led to teach others about an issue because you had worked through it yourself? Scolded a puppy for not minding you and knew instantly that you disobey God in the same way?
This book is for you, my friend. It is not about dogs or me, but about you and your relationship with God. He wants to teach you, mold you, train you. He will use your children, your pets, your family, your friends, your problems, your sin, your sickness, your situations every day to learn and grow. All you have to do is listen.

Leseprobe

Pet Seminary

Stories of how God

used our pets to teach us

about Him and His ways.

_______

JeffSutherland

INFINITY

Published by Infinity Books Ltd, Valletta, Malta

www.infinitybooks.eu

www.infinitybooksmalta.com

[email protected]

Mobile and WhatsApp [phone]

Second Printing: October, 2021

©2007-2021byJeffSutherland and Infinity Books Ltd

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced,stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or byanymeanswithoutthepriorwrittenpermissionofthepublishers,exceptbyareviewerwhomayquotebriefpassages in a review to be printed in a newspaper, magazineorjournal.

Allcharactersappearinginthisworkarefictitious.Anyresemblancetorealpersons,livingordead,ispurelycoincidental.

Acknowledgments

SincewebeganwritingthesestoriesofhowGodusedourpets to teach us about Him and His ways, you can imaginehowmuchmorewehavelearnedduringthisfiveyearproject.We have had many new pets we would like to introduce toyou. Their playfulness has brought us much joy, and ourexperiencewiththemhastaughtusmuchaswecontinuethisjourneyofsanctification.

We look forward to sharing more stories about what we learned through landscaping in "A Weed Free Life", what we learned as Chaplain at two rescue missions in "I Am a Whino." From watching the news in "Convient Lies" and a half dozen other titles that cover every aspect of our lives. Indeed God is will to teach us His ways and we ask, as David asks in Psalm 25:4-5. But God has begun to use much more than pets to teach us His ways. He knows we have much to learn and to share. God uses people, places, things, events and things besides the normal sermons and scripture and prayer to get our attention. We hope you enjoy reading and learning with us as much as we have putting these stories together. It is our hope that you begin to see God as more real and involved in your life. If so, please take a moment to share your story and what you learned with us.

Contact us at:

Jeff and Jan Sutherland

1409 Hardwood Drive West

Gulf Shores, AL 36542

Or e-mail at:

[email protected]

Find us on Facebook at:

Fort Morgan Ministries

We look forward to hearing and learning with you.

Thank you for taking the time. Our prayers are with you.

The stories are here for your enjoyment but don't stop there. The questions, the Scripture the homework and the prayer combine to challenge your thinking and apply His ways to your life, to learn, to grow and to share what you learn with others.

TableofContents

Chapter1:BringingHimHome-DecisionMaking7

Chapter 2: What Is in a Name, Oh Bacchus? -Persistence10

Chapter3:Don’tHitMyPuppy-Discipline14

Chapter4:KingoftheDoghouse-Pride17

Chapter5:TheBall-TimeManagement20

Chapter6:Runaway,PartOne-Worry-Freedom23

Chapter7: Runaway,Part Two- Wondering-Running

from God26

Chapter 8:Runaway, PartThree -Capture - Teaching29

Chapter 9:No,Not Again-Forgiveness32

Chapter10:AllTiedUp-LifeDominatingSin35

Chapter11:TheSolution-Trials38

Chapter12:I’llFixYou-Suffering40

Chapter13:Despair-Sex42

Chapter14:NoEscape-Healing44

Chapter15:TheWreck-Faith/Trust47

Chapter16:PlayBall!-Joy50

Chapter17:AnimalMagnetism-SocialAnxiety52

Chapter18: Bacchus and the Flower Girls - Temptation54

Chapter19:BacchusandtheHamBone-Charity57

Chapter20:CornDogsforthePoor-Priorities60

Chapter 21:Road Trip- LifeDirection/Change62

Chapter22:TheCanoeTrip-Responsibility65

Chapter23:BacchusandtheWildebeest-Fear68

Chapter24:Aerodynamics-Joy71

Chapter25:Protector-God’sProtection73

Chapter26:Duck!-Priorities75

Chapter27:Grandpa’sSwimmingLesson-Sin77

Chapter 28:BoomBoom-ControllingFear80

Chapter29:AgingGracefully-Aging/Salvation82

Chapter30:Gretel-ProblemSolving84

Chapter31:Peppy-Relationships86

Chapter32:HangingOut-Security89

Chapter33:He’saRascal-DecisionMaking91

Chapter34:HoleintheBowl-Sufficiency93

Chapter35:AGriefObserved-Grief95

Chapter36:ThingsAren’tAlwaysWhatThey

Seem -Discernment97

Chapter37:MaxwellS.Green-Selfishness100

Chapter38:AHungryLittleGirl-Salvation102

Chapter39:MaximumExercise-Obstacles105

Chapter40:Buddy- AngryatGod108

Chapter 41:Warning! AttackCat onDuty! - Anger110

Chapter42:WeAreNotFeedingHerfromtheTable-

Sin113

Chapter43:JustTrustMe-Relationships115

Chapter 44:DogandDragonfly-God’s Revelation117

Chapter45:PainfulEars-Repentance119

Chapter46:DemonDogs-Sanctification121

Chapter47:Addiction-Addictions124

Chapter48:HeartwormsKill-Prayer/Devotions126

Chapter49: Leading Upto the End- Dealingwith

Suffering/ Death128

Chapter50:AngelKitty-Grief/Loss131

Chapter51:MemoriesofaFriend-Grief134

Chapter52:LifeGoesOn-Recovery/God’sProvision137

Chapter1

BringingHimHome

DecisionMaking

“Ifoundit!”mycousinexclaimedoverthebreakfasttableashereadtheSundaypaper.

“Found what?” I asked, not knowing we were looking foranything.

“Thisisjustwhatyouneed.Apuppy,”Marksaidexcitedly. “Hurry, call them right now before they are allgone.” He grabbed the phone, furiously dialed the number,thenhandedthereceivertome.

Mark was a carpenter by trade and had graciously beenaddingsomefinishingtouchestoournewhome.MywifeJanandI,marriedayear,hadjustmovedintoourfirsthouse.Weneededmanythings,butadogwasnotoneofthem.

“Hello?Yes,Iamcallingaboutthepuppiesyouhavelistedinthepaper.Youonlyhaveafewleft?We’llberightover.”

What am I doing? I thought to myself as Mark and I drovethrough the outskirts of Atlanta. Jan was in Birminghamvisiting her family and I knew I shouldn’t make this kind ofdecisionwithoutconsultingherfirst.Awshoot,itwon’thurttolook, I told the little voice inside my head that screamed,“Don’tdoit!”

JEFFSUTHERLAND

He camerunningto usas soonas wegot outof the truck.

Twopoundsofcuddlyfur,puppyfatandbigfeet.

“He’s the only one left…the runt of the litter,” the ownersaid.

“We’lltakehim,”Markansweredquickly.

BythattimeIwasinthegrasswhilethelittleguylickedmyface.Iwasinlove.

OnthewayhomeMarkaskedthetenmilliondollarquestion.“Whatareyougoingtocallhim?”

Call him? How should I know? An hour ago we wereenjoyingaleisurelybreakfastandnowIwasadogowner,anowner whose spouse had no idea about the new member ofthe family.HowwasIgoingtoexplainthistoJan?

Asyouwillseeinthefollowingchapters,Godbroughtthis dogintoourlivesforaspecialreason.Hehadsomethingstoteach us that we could not have learned without a pet. Godused this animal and several others we have encounteredalong the wayto showus aboutour relationship withHim.

Questions:Doyouhaveproblemsmakingdecision?Whichis easier for you, the large ones or the small ones? Do youstruggle, even agonize, over which products to buy at themarketwhilecareerchoiceslieonyourdeskthatyouhaven’tdealtwith?Whodoyouconferwithaboutthesedecisions?

Homework: Think of a time in your life when you werefacedwithabigdecision.Howdidyoumakethechoice?Whoinfluenced you? What role did God play? Did you consultHimatallinthematter?HowmuchcontroldoesGodhaveinyoureverydayaffairs?HowmuchcontroldoyougiveovertoHim? If He is in complete control, what difference do yourdecisions make? How should you include your spouse indecision making? What things should you give others thefreedomtodecideaboutyouwithoutyourinput?Trybackingupthequestionsabovewithagoodscripturaldefense.

PETSEMINARY

Scripture:Joshua24;IKings18;Hebrews3;Hebrews11;

Romans12; Ephesians 1; Ephesians 2.

Prayer:“God,pleaseshowmetodaymoreaboutyou,whoYoureallyareandwhatImeantoYou.Usethegoodandbadin my life to make me a stronger Christian for Your glory.Lord, we make decisions every day. Teach us to look to YoufirstforYourdirectioninourlives.”

Chapter2

WhatIsinaName,OhBacchus?

Persistence

“Youhaveawhat?”myyoungbrideaskedincredulously.“Comeandsee.Justcomeouthereintheyardandtakea

look,”I saidto her.

Jan followed me out the door, mumbling, “We don’t needa dog; we can’t have a dog; what are we going to do with adog?You’vealreadybuiltapen?”

She stopped in front of the crude fence Mark and I hadhurriedlyputtogetherandlookedaroundforournewaddition. Suddenly a white fluff of fur appeared and our six-week-old retriever/shepherd mix ran up to greet his newmom.ThelookonJan’sfacesaideverything…shewashooked.

“He’s so cute,” she cooed, sweeping him up in her arms.“Whatarewegoingtonamehim?”

I’d thought about it, of course, between worrying aboutbeing a newly married and already divorced man with apuppy,buthadnotcomeupwithanythingyet.Ithadtobeaspecial name, one that matched his personality. We wouldjust havetowaitandsee.We wouldnothavetowaitlong.

PETSEMINARY

At four a.m. our answer came, “Ooooooooooowwwwwwhhhhhhhhhhh!”

“Yoursonwantsyou,”mysleepywifesaidasshenudgedmeandrolledover.

He hasto learntostay outsidealone,I toldmyself.

Half an hour and much whining later, I could stand it nolonger. The moment I turned on the light in the kitchen thehowlingintensified.Theneighborsaregoingtolovethis,IthoughtasIwenttorescuethelonelylittleguy.

Leavingforworkveryearlythatday,IleftanoteforJanonthekitchentable.“Puppyingarage,beenfed.”

UponmyreturnhomeIfoundhisbowlfulloffood.Hehadnibbledonafewshoes,anewpairofSwissmadeprofessionalpruners, my leather gloves, almost everything but his puppychow. Puzzled, I wondered aloud to Jan as to why he hadn’teatenhisfood.

“Oh, I came home from work at lunch and we shared asandwich,”shesaidnonchalantly.

Howsweet,Ithought,thenrealizedheractionshadprobablybeenabigmistake.

As soon as we closed the door to the garage it started.“Ooooooowwwwwwhhhhhh!”

Iwentbackintothegarage,pattedhimonhispointedlittleheadandtoldhimpolitelytobequiet.TheminuteIclosedthedooritstartedagain.“Ooooooowwwwwhhhhhh!”

Iwentbackintothegarageandscoldedhimmoreseverely.When I went back inside…“Oooooowwwwwhhhhhhh!” Hewaswhining,constantlywhining.

IsatdownonthesofaandturnedupthevolumeontheTVtodrownoutthenoise.Thenitcametome.“We’recallinghimBacchus,”Iannounced.JanlookedatmeasifIhadjustlandedon earth from another planet, but I was used to those looksandwentontoexplainmyreasoning.“Bacchuswasthe Romangodofwineandthisdogwhinesallthetime.”

JEFFSUTHERLAND

Welaughedtogetherandknewtherewasnodoubt,Bacchuswashisname.

“Ooooowwwwwhhhhhh,” came a cry from the garage,makingthevoteunanimous.

Questions: Did you give up after the first attempt at golfwhenyoudidn’tmakepar?Isbowlingaperfect300whatyouexpectfromyourfirsttimeout?WouldyouconsiderenteringtheTourdeFranceafterjustlearningtorideabicycle?Isyourprayer life that way? Do you ask God something, expectingtheanswer immediately,thenquitasking?

Homework:GodtaughtmealotthatdaywenamedBacchus. If I keep on praying, keep on knocking, keep onasking(whining),Hewillanswer.Persistenceisneeded.Why?BecauseHedesiresthatrelationship,thatconstantcommunication,withus.

Patience,persistenceanddisciplineshouldbeyourgoalinprayer and study, just as it should be in marriage, work andplay. What in your life is not working? Have you prayedabout it? How often? How long? At what point should yougiveup?

WearenottolookatGodasourheavenlySantaClausebutHedoeswanttohearfromus.Hewantstoteachuspersistence,patienceanddiscipline.Heislistening,butremember,sometimestheanswerisno.

Have you put feet to your prayers? What are you doingaboutyoursituation?Incounseling,themostcommonanswertothequestion“whatareyoudoingabouttheproblem”is“Iprayed.”Okay,well,nowwhat?Whatevertheproblem is, do you see it as something God can change butwon’t? Bad God! Or is the problem really a sin you refuse togiveup?

Keepajournalforamonthonyourprayerlife.Writeout

PETSEMINARY

whatyouareprayingforandwhy.ThenrecordhowGodanswersyourprayers.Itwillchangeyourlife.

Scripture:Matthew5-7;Psalm119;Deuteronomy8;James

1-5;Psalm32;Psalm51;Jeremiah29;Acts12;Job1.

Prayer:“ThankYouforbeginningtoshowmethatYouareinthedetails.Youwanttobeapartofourliveseverystepofthe way. Lord, teach us patience, persistence and discipline,but please be gentle. Allow us to see ourselves the way Youseeus.”

Chapter3

Don’tHitMyPuppy

Discipline

WHACK!

“Arararara,” Bacchus yelled out in terror and retreatedquickly from the rolled up newspaper held by my cousinMark.

“Whatareyoudoingtomypuppy?Don’thitmybaby!”Janscreamedfromthekitchen.

Funnyhowquicklypeoplecanchange.Afewdaysagomywife was chastising me for bringing home a dog. Now firedanced in her eyes as she stormed into the living room like amotherhenreadytoprotectherchick.

“How dare you hit my poor, little puppy!” she roared atMark.

Mark, known for his levelheadedness in tough situations,looked at me for support. “Your dog just wet on your newcarpet.Hemustlearnnownottodothat.”

“I don’t care what he did; you hurt him. He’s just a littleguy,” she said, sweeping him in her arms and holding himtightly.

Ihadneverseenmywifesoangry at someoneother