Cat and Mole (Not Mouse!)

Matthew 28:19 – “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,…”

We recently moved house from a very urban area to an area with more green space. Our cat, Gracie, in the urban area would always bring home feathers to play with from the local pigeon coop one of the residents owned. These feathers had fallen out of the pigeons already. They were the evidence that pigeons existed, but Gracie had not been with them!

Since moving, in the space of one week she has bought home 6 baby moles. Being a gentle soul she brings them home alive to share the joy with us! She drops them in our living room or takes them upstairs to run around the house. Bless! I have caught two now and put them back in the field (locking Gracie in for 50 minutes or so to give the poor thing a head start!), but I usually chicken out if my husband is around and scream for his assistance.

We have had Gracie for just over 4 years now. The majority of her life has shown little opportunity to go hunting and catch small furry animals, an innate instinct she has, but as soon as the opportunity has arisen in this more countryside surrounding those instincts have naturally surfaced and gone into action.

As Christians we need to put ourselves in group or individual situations where there is a spiritual ‘countryside’ before us – an opportunity for our supernatural instincts to surface, which is to witness to those that do not know God. If we do not put ourselves in those surroundings then all we will bring home are feathers – the evidence that those who are lost are all around us, from what we see and pick up on in our daily lives, but we have not been with them.

How do we do this? As a church and as individuals we need to meet with non-Christians. Not, as some would suggest, to create false friendships merely to see these people become Christians, but to create friendships where as a friend we have to tell them about Jesus and the love of God, or what kind of friend are we?

The Manifest Presence Of God

I recently read Leonard Ravenhill’s book ‘Why Revival Tarries’ and then Rodney Howard-Browne’s book ‘The Touch of God’. There is restlessness in me to see more of the supernatural manifestations of God. Not because I am one of those ‘flaky’ or ‘OTT’ Pentecostal Christians, but because I know that God wants to show His manifest presence in the church. Acts 2, and many other scriptures, shows us that the church should be displaying signs and wonders as part of its meeting together. A relevant excellent church and the manifest presence of God can go hand in hand when handled by mature Christlike leaders.

Acts 2:15-18:“These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.’” (NIV)

Sometimes...

Philippians 3:14: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)

Sometimes, I feel like Elijah - passionate and fearless (well apart from the Jezebel incident!).

Sometimes, I feel I’m displaying some of the character and personality of Jesus. Well rounded in my emotions, strong when I need to be, compassionate, and at times full of sorrow. Looking towards God to empower me to do His work - seeing what He wants me to do.

Sometimes, I feel like Jeremiah full of sadness over the state of the world, the state of God’s people.

Sometimes, I feel like Judas or Peter. Not that I would deny or betray Jesus, but betray who He is in my actions, attitude and attentions.

To say this journey is easy is to be complacent and shows a life that has stopped moving forwards in their faith. We need to die daily to ourselves. To say we should not struggle is to not understand the tension between this earthly life and the heavenly destiny we yearn for.

Sometimes is one step forward towards most of the time.