"Training My Cat"

“Training My Cat”

This morning I was looking at my cat Lily as she settled in for a nap across the room from where I was sitting. I reflected on how much she’s changed since I adopted her at age three. Since then she has learned to respond to different voices I use and even hand gestures, knowing what I want. This does not mean that she is still not an independent feline as God created her, but she has changed drastically from a cat who was so afraid of me into one who trusts me totally. The other day she was across the room and all I did was crook my finger in the “Come here” gesture and she came right over to get some love because she knows what that means. I didn’t have to speak at all. She comes running when I use a certain voice for her treats. She understands praise. She understands love. She knows I only want what is best for her.

Then I thought: Has God trained me? Have I learned to “hear” and understand the subtle words that He puts in my spirit and immediately respond? Have I changed from a person who was fearful and wanted her own way to a person who totally trusts her Maker? I’m still independent in a way because of the free will that God has blessed each of us with, but do I now choose to put that aside to do what He wants me to do? Have my responses to situations been freely released into His desires for me? Do I know for sure that He only wants the best for me?

The difference is, Lily has learned to respond in certain ways because of receiving rewards, My response to my Savior is my choice but totally based on the fact that He came to this Earth as all God and all man, died, and rose again…for me. I respond to that out of love, not reward. I respond to that based on total trust in Him. I respond to that out of absolute gratitude for all He is, all He has done, and all He is continuing to do in my life, knowing without a doubt that He wants the best for me.

For Lily, it is a learned behavior. For me it is an honor and privilege to allow myself to be melded into the character of Christ.

“Take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces His character in you,” (Ephesians 4:24, The Message).

Grace and Blessings!

Karen McMillan

"Overcoming Insomnia"

“Overcoming Insomnia”

In 2000 Karen went on a missions trip to East Asia which required a coast-to-coast flight followed by a hop across the Pacific. Sleeping on a plane is difficult for her so she was awake on virtually the entire journey. By contrast, her traveling companion who has (in her own words) “the spiritual gift of sleep” was in dreamland most of the time, including layovers. Guess who was more alert when they arrived at their destination.

Generally speaking I have little trouble dropping off at night (and at times during the day) but others, Karen included, aren’t nearly as fortunate. Some have tried coping with their insomnia problem by medications, counting sheep, reading until they get drowsy and likely many other methods. Some work, others don’t. So what can we do if we feel we’re becoming sleep deprived?

In His humanity Jesus became weary and needed rest. On one occasion He’d become so tired after a full day of ministry that He fell asleep in a boat (maybe Peter’s) during a storm (Mark 4:38). Sometime later He and His disciples were physically and emotionally drained (they had just heard of John the Baptist’s beheading at Herod’s order) and He said, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place, and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31). We too need to recognize when we need to stop what we’re doing and let God renew our strength. In the words of the late preacher Vance Havner, “If you don’t come apart, you’ll come apart.”

In those times (thankfully rare) that I have trouble getting to or falling back to sleep I’ve learned to repeat Scripture (Psalms 1, 23, 86 and 100 are my “go to” passages), sing old hymns in my mind, pray and remember my “think list” from Philippians 4:8 (those things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy). Usually I don’t get through what I’ve started because I’ve begun sawing wood without realizing it.

Maybe our insomnia is brought about by struggles and fears we’re facing. (See the recent posting “The Answer to ‘What If?’” for some ideas on dealing with them.) But let’s remember that God’s always with us (“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”—Exodus 33:14, emphasis added) and we can say with David, “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8, emphasis added).

Sweet dreams!

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"The 'Me' in Me"

“The ‘Me’ in Me”

During a deacons’ meeting in a church we served in a rural area of New York State one of the men made a statement I’ll never forget: “Our wives tell us what we don’t want to hear. And the maddening thing is they’re usually right!” As I’ve thought of this comment over the past 40 years I’ve coupled it with Solomon’s words in Proverbs 27:6. This verse has been rendered in various ways including….

*”Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” (NASB, NKJV)

*”Wounds from a friend can be trusted….” (NIV, 2011)

*”The wounds from a lover are worth it….” (The Message)

However we read it it’s true because it comes from God (“…All {God’s} precepts are trustworthy.”—Psalm 111:7).

Not long ago Karen pointed out a bad habit of mine to which I reacted wrongly. I argued that others weren’t adversely affected by my actions to which she responded, “God sees it even if others don’t.” “Nothing,,,is hidden from God’s sight.” (Hebrews 4:13, emphasis added) came to mind. Ouch!! Since then I’ve tried, with God’s help, to overcome “the ‘me’ in me”. It’s still a work in progress and likely will be until God takes me Home (see Philippians 1:6).

Our Lord’s friend and apostle gives Christian men (including yours truly) a command and resultant warning in our relationship with our wives: “…You husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat her with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. If you don’t treat her as you should, your prayers will not be heard.” (1 Peter 3:7, NLT, emphasis added). Could “the ‘me’ in me” be the reason some of my prayers seem to go unanswered? A regular dose of Psalm 139:23-24 would go a long way towards righting this wrong.

I thank God for putting faithful people in my life, especially Karen, to provide godly wisdom and guidance. Please pray with and for me that I’ll listen well and overcome “the ‘me’ in me”.

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"The Rumor Mill"

“The Rumor Mill”

In 1950 Hank Ketcham created the comic character “Dennis the Menace”, a tow-headed four- year-old who never ran out of unique ways to get into mischief. Ketcham himself oversaw the individual panels, Sunday strips and books until his retirement in 1994 when he turned it over to his associates. After 70 years it’s still going strong (and miraculously Dennis hasn’t grown up), making it one of the most successful humor series ever.

While the vast majority of us are familiar with Dennis’ (mis)adventures most are unaware of another figment of Ketcham’s imagination. Between 1970 and 1975 “Half Hitch” joined “Dennis the Menace” in Sunday newspapers. Hitch was a pint-sized sailor and sort of a Navy version of Phil Silvers’ Army Sgt. Bilko. The only strip I remember was Hitch’s sitting in the ship’s mess hall and commenting, “The cook’s way ahead in his chowder”. It was intended as a compliment but by the time it got to the end of the table the version was, “Hitch says the cook’s a chowderhead!” The strip concluded with soup poured over Hitch’s head, a confused look and his asking, “What’d I do?”

When my dad was going through his final illness I submitted a request to the church prayer chain and mentioned the condition he was dealing with. When the cycle was completed it was reported that he was suffering from an entirely different affliction. I wasn’t offended by this but it does illustrate (as does the “Half Hitch” incident) that outcomes can change if we fail to listen carefully and get our facts straight. And this can be the stuff from which the rumor mill can start.

God has blessed people with the gift of speech and He expects us to use our words carefully (“May the words of my mouth…be pleasing in your sight, O Lord….”—Psalm 19:14). But using this ability indiscriminately by repeating what we’ve heard (usually something negative) runs the risk of setting unfounded rumors in motion and doing great damage. God saw this coming when He said, “Do not go about spreading slander among your people.” (Leviticus 19:16) because “…whoever repeats (a) matter separates close friends.” (Proverbs 17:9).

How can we stop the rumor mill? By determining that our speech is careful (Proverbs 13:3, TM), beyond reproach (Titus 2:8. NASB) and wise (Psalm 37:30). And by making sure we’re not stoking the fire (“Without wood a fire goes out….”—Proverbs 26:20) and remembering there’s “…a time to be silent….” (Ecclesiastes 3:7). May we take God’s admonition seriously for the good of all.

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

(For another look at this subject see “Check It Out”)