In our home, we are kind of like a zoo.  This statement, of course, reminds me of the book, “I’ll Love You Forever”.  Anyway, we are the people that get called when someone’s friend or coworker can no longer keep a pet.  We have gotten a lot of them that way.  We currently have two huge dogs, Belle, a blonde female Lab and Aslan a male Chesapeake Bay Retriever.  Aslan looks more red than a regular retriever but he has curly hair.  Looks kind of like a main around his face and that’s why he is named Aslan.  Both of these were rescue dogs.

We also have a cat named Rufus.  He was just a tiny little thing when I found him meowing so loudly in the bushes at the bank.  He couldn’t have been more than like five inches long.  I brought him home for Lucy and he’s been with us for about a year and a half now.

And then came Bubbles, a guinea pig who was mistreated and very skittish when we got her.  Now she purrs and runs around and likes to be held.  Our brother-in-law’s co-workers couldn’t keep her.  And she’s gotten very spoiled, kale, celery, green beans, etc., along with the regular hay and green pellet stuff.  When we pet her, she stretches out and is about a foot long.  Huge girl, and very happy and healthy.  Of course, my husband loves fish.  We have had a vast assortment of fish in our tank.  I guess we’ll never be without one.  And before we moved here with a smaller back yard, we also had four turtles.  I miss my little guys, they were awesome!

One morning as I came down the stairs, the dogs were in a little bit of a crazy mood.  And the cat is different with them when we are around.  This morning, he walked all regally and elegantly and slowly right in between the dogs doing circles at the bottom of the stairs.  Cracked me up.  And reminded me of this verse in Psalms:

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Psalm 23:5

You see, as long as we are with him, he calmly and slowly acts like he’s all that and a bag of Cheetos.  He is confident, even in the presence of those that would jump on him or sit on him.  When we are out of sight, he acts like a scardy cat.  Maybe that’s because Aslan tried to eat him once… but that’s an entirely different story.

Isn’t that how we should be?  God promises to never leave nor forsake us.  And He said He would prepare a table for us, a banquet for us even when we were smack dab in the middle of our enemy’s house.  Can’t you just see it?  Almost reminds me of Shad, Mesh, and Abed in the fiery furnace and Daniel in the Lion’s den.  If God did it for them, does He love us any less?  Absolutely and resoundingly NO!

So here’s the thing, no matter what enemy is trying to get at you, no matter how crazy your circumstances right this second, God Himself is making a banquet for You, His beloved child.  And His promise to you even though others mean things to harm you, is that ALL things will work together for your good, to those that love Him.  What a crazy and amazing promise.

So be encouraged today in the middle of your crisis, no matter what it is, God’s not only got you, He’s making a party for you to celebrate in the middle of your particular storm!

Remember, God is fighting for you, you only need to keep still.

Just a quick note:  I love how when we talk we aren’t supposed to say ALL, or Everything, or Always.  But I notice that in the Bible, God’s very own words, He say those words ALL THE TIME!  Yes, that’s the way my mind works…