Enjoy these selections from the last 90 days of Walter Mouse's weekly "Field Mouse Evangelism" devotions. The devotions are listed in descending order by date with the most recent devotion at the top. Click here if you would like to read the Wending Our Way devotions.
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Bill's brother Tucker has a long-haired yellow cat named Furby. Furby has learned that if he wants something while Tuck's eating and Tuck's seated, he can stand on his back legs and touch Tuck very gently (with claws sheathed) on the arm. I've watched him to this many times and am always impressed by the gentleness and intentionality of Furby's outreach.
I'm reminded of Someone Else Who often touches us in similar gentle, intentional ways - God. A sad smile on someone's face, a slow shuffle along the way, a creaky rising from a chair, a deep sigh as someone passes by - all of these could be "Cat-Paw Requests" for an equally soft and gentle touch of God's love. Can you respond to such requests?
Matthew 8:3 ...Jesus reached out his hands and touched him....
We bought a new mailbox post a few years ago. The friendly fellow at Home Depot took us right to the section containing pressure treated wooden mailbox posts. He hoisted the almost five foot tall post onto his shoulder, then with a cheery "Follow me," he led us to the section offering mailbox numbers. "Follow me."
Does that sound familiar? This man - like Jesus - knew what we needed, where we needed to go to get connected with it, and how to manage the trip. Our job was to follow him. Our job description didn't include worry about what was happening or anxiety over possible future complications, even if the way looked a bit uncertain. In like manner, Our Jesus knows the territory He's leading us through. We needn't stress ourselves with worry and anxiety.
If we find we can't trust His hand, we know we can trust His heart. He won't lead us wrong.
Matthew 12:15 ...Many followed him....
Bill just took an allergy pill. It's a time-release tablet, so it'll offer protection for the next twenty-four hours. He used to take allergy pills that lasted only four hours, but that was a nuisance because he had to remember to take the darn things four or five times a day. The fact that twenty-four hour tablets allow their benefit to be released over time is marvelously handy.
Naturally, this all reminded me of Jesus - and the Cross. That's because the Cross has time-release capacity as well. Although Jesus died more that 2,000 years ago, His work on the Cross retains its ability to save souls and guide lives down through the ages. No need for Christ to keep returning to repeat His original gruesome but powerful gift. The free flow of His grace is constant throughout the ages.
Hebrews 9:28 ...so Christ was sacrificed...to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Bill, Harvey and I were out on the road yesterday when we pulled up behind a car with a rear window wiper. As the arm moved the wiper blade across the window, the whole thing wiggled and shook erratically as it tried to clear away the on-going light rain that had begun to fall. "That thing sure flobbles," observed Harvey. We all laughed as he added, "I guess that's flops and wobbles in one word!"
You know, "flobbles" isn't a bad word. Don't we all flobble sometimes when we keep on keeping on even though we're exhausted, ill, over-whelmed, confused, scared or rushed? Sometimes what we need is rest, but if there's still stuff we need to be doing, we can pray for strength to get the doing done.
Flobbling around doesn't necessarily disqualify us for the job. It just draws us closer to our Ultimate Strength - Jesus.
2 Samuel 22:33 ...It is God who arms me with strength....
Bill, Tucker (Bill's brother) and I were driving along 422W one day recently when a young man roared past us on a motorcycle. As he wove precariously around fast-moving cars and sped off into the distance, Tuck remarked "This isn't a racetrack!" True enough.
I soon got to thinking about life and it occurred to me that life isn't a racetrack, either. Life isn't meant for speed - it's meant for endurance and relationship. We're not called to rush past others as we hurry by on our self-appointed rounds. We're called to journey with others, loving them - and God - as we go.
And we're called to sit in neutral as often as we can, savoring God's presence and peace. Racing madly forward often negates God's plans for us and for others.
Colossians 1:11 ...that you may have great endurance....
Lunch out with friends again. As the waitress poured Bill's coffee and he reached for one of those individual sealed creamers, I noticed the word "LIFT" printed on its lid, right above that little pull-tab thingy.
What a great word to build the day around - lifting others' spirits. A smile, an encouraging word, a note, a small gift - all can serve to brighten someone's day and can bring them a visible touch of God's love.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 ...encourage one another and build each other up....
We were out for lunch today and sat near two women. As they checked their menus, "Mrs. Black" began talking - and kept up a constant flow of words (It wasn't really conversation. Conversation requires as exchange of thoughts, information and feelings.) She kept at it the entire meal, leaving her companion no part in her on-going monologue. Her companion looked more and more weary as the meal progressed and she seemed emotionally exhausted by the time they paid their bill and left - with "Mrs. Black" still nattering away as they walked to their cars.
Do you suppose Jesus feels like that when we spend all our prayer time talking about ourselves and our troubles without giving Him a opportunity to contribute? It's OK to vent our feelings to Him (He wants us to do that.), but we need to be sure to give Him a chance to be part of the conversation, too.
Psalms 81:13 ...If my people would but listen to me...
This morning a house finch and a catbird were bug-hunting near our one weigela bush. The finch was small, like a sparrow. The catbird was bigger, more like a robin (maybe not quite that big). Anyway, they got into a tiff over some morsel and I figured that the catbird would win since it was the bigger of the two. Not so! That little finch was scrappy and fought off the catbird.
The whole scene gave me encouragement for the times I have to face down stuff that's bigger than I am (like temptations, a desire to say unkind words, discouraging thoughts, worries, and fears). With God's word and His Presence, I can be pretty scrappy, too. Big things don't have to scare me off, either. I can be strong and courageous! Hallelujah!!
Joshua 1:6 ...Be strong and courageous....
Bill had cereal for breakfast. Once he'd gotten it into his bowl and poured some milk on it, he went to the drawer to get a spoon. Somehow he managed to grab two spoons, so he put one back before he sat down.
That extra spoon made me think of Jesus - He often gives us "extra spoons", too. An extra spoon implies that we've got enough to share. As Christians, that's always true about each of us. We always have a bit of extra God-stuff we can share: a smile, a kind word, a donation, some form of help...whatever.
Jesus always gives us "extra spoons" so can share His Love with others.
Acts 4:32 ...they shared everything they had.
Bill's mom, being a woman, is very much into relating to others. She, like most women, values talking and caring. Bill on the other hand, being a man, is much more into talking, activity and doing. He prefers accomplishing stuff. Women tend to talk in order to relate. Men tend to talk in order to get something done, so both Bill and Eileen are behaving typically for their gender.
Now think about the Trinity: they're a wonderful mixture of male and female traits - caring and doing. They perfectly embody the gentle nature of Love as well as its capacity to act on behalf of others.
It's this combination of male and female characteristics which gives Our God His amazing ability to care for us physically, emotionally and spiritually. Thus, He cares for us in every sense of the word.
Nahum 1:7 ... [the LORD] cares for those who trust in him.
Today we visited Bill's mom Eileen, and I watched as she made a pot of tea - using real tea leaves. She put the leaves in a strainer basket inside the teapot, poured boiling water over them, and then let things steep. Much tastier than tea bags!
The whole process reminded me of how God uses us to touch others with His love. People need love. God's the source of love. But He needs other hands and hearts to express that personally. That's where we come in. We're like the tea leaves and God's like the boiling water - which releases His love in us.
As our incomplete earthly love steeps in His perfect grace and compassion, we -together - produce an infusion that can be poured out for others.
Psalms 42:8 ...By day the LORD directs his love....
Bill's mom Eileen went around in sandals all summer. She put on a pair of pumps yesterday and found that they pinched. Things that pinch aren't comfortable. Shoes are notorious for it. So are collars, belts, watchbands, doors, drawers and crabs...to name a few.
How about thoughts? How about thoughts about ourselves? Sometimes we inflict "thoughts that pinch" on ourselves. ("I'm too stupid to learn this." "I'd lose my head if it weren't attached." "I'll never amount to anything.") Such thoughts are hurtful - and dangerous. They can keep us from growing or can make growth much more challenging.
Thoughts that pinch can often be re-worded. ("I'm learning this slowly because it's all new to me." "I need to slow down and concentrate on completing this one thing." "I'm exploring my gifts so I can use them effectively.") God wants us to be comfortable in our own skins. Speaking kindly to ourselves helps make that happen.
Ruth 2:13 ...you have spoken kindly....
Click here to read the Wending Our Way devotions.
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This page was last revised on February 23, 2020 at 7:41 PM.
