a dog

so felt the need to post something a little
raw
because that was part of the original purpose of this
blog to be brutally honest
we can only be healed and forgiven when we are honest
with where we are

our dog is currently outside barking at a person who is so far away they are almost in another state (literally), they pose no real threat and are not a danger to us at all, but on and on he barks

how often do i bark at stuff that doesn't really matter
how often do i make my wife or kids "feel bad" by words that
just spill out of a stony heart
how often do i miss opportunities to play or pray or love or make a "moment to remember" because i choose to bark at nothing

this week at church i'm supposed to lead a discussion on "grace in the home" and in kids' church i am doing a lesson on the 'gideon' story "do not be afraid" theme
this week in our lives a young girl is in the hospital who has "passed out" and the dr's don't know why, an email arrived asking for prayer for a 5 year old who is having "strokes" and the Dr's don't know why, charli's (1 year old) battle with cancer is a blog i frequent, voice of the martyrs email arrives with more stories of Christians who have been killed or jailed this week just because they love Jesus... all these things are out there and the call is to be sold out for God, in such a close loving relationship with Him that our hearts "beat as one"... that i can be a pure clean vessel of His words, His love, His power...

it ain't happening

and the time is short