Philippians 1-4; Proverbs 20:1-10

Saturday's Bible Reading: Philippians 1-4; Proverbs 20:1-10

[T]he gifts you sent . . . are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. —Philippians 4:18

Rather than a "fragrant offering," we were visited tonight by a strong odor that I can only describe as the combination of a frightened skunk, burning garbage, and leaking gasoline.

What happened is kind of sketchy, but about 10 p.m. Maggie came downstairs with something urgent on her mind. Usually this means that she has to go outside to do business. But instead of trying to get my attention, she went to all the corners of my office as if she was trying to get away from something. Then I smelled it. The stench described above. I hurried upstairs to determine the source. Jay was on the porch reading. Nothing was burning. But the smell was everywhere. I brought him downstairs. We tried to locate the place where it was strongest.

Our noses led us to Maggie. "You know," he said, bending down to sniff her fur, "she went after something in the woods when I took her out, but I pulled her back. I didn't think she had time to get into anything."

Well, apparently she did, and it was foul! She had the look of guilt to go with the smell. Ears flat. Eyes big. Head lowered. She knew something was wrong, but she didn't know how to make it right. We were about to tell her, but she didn't want to hear it. She tried hiding, but there was no hiding that smell! She just spread it to the rest of the house. We finally got her into the garage and into a tub of water. Jay scrubbed her while I washed her bedding and sprayed the house with room deodorizer and Febreeze.

It's better now. I think we'll be able to sleep.

Poor Maggie. Her experience brought to mind the times I've tried to get away from something unpleasant, not realizing that the unpleasantness was me.

Even being on a leash doesn't keep us out of trouble all of the time.

2 Samuel 16-18; Proverbs 15:22-33

Tuesday's Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 16-18; Proverbs 15:22-33

At 3:00 a.m. I was awakened by the sound of loud growling. It was not Maggie. It was Jay. A lion was guarding a tourist sight, and Jay believed he could keep the lion from attacking by being the loudest growler.

At 3:15 a.m. I was again awakened but this time by singing . . . of the National Anthem. Occasion unknown. Jay was annoyed that I would not sing along.

Another interesting night at the Link's.

Numbers 16-18; Proverbs 22:9-16

Monday's Bible Reading: Numbers 16-18; Proverbs 22:9-16


Photo copyright Elroyie David.

Numbers 17. The staff of Aaron budded, blossomed, and produced almonds as proof to the Israelites that Aaron was God's choice to be priest and thus to put a stop to their grumbling.

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Maggie has many wonderful qualities. She is excellent when it comes to pulling and protecting. But as a homemaker? Well, she has limitations. When we leave the house, her homemaking instincts kick in. This is what she accomplished yesterday while we were at church.

Isaiah 42-43; Proverbs 15:22-33

Tuesday's Bible Reading: Isaiah 42-43; Proverbs 15:22-33

A cover I would like for Loving God with All My Strength . . .






















This morning I took a wailing walk with God (Maggie came along and pretended not to notice my loud laments). This was after a long shower when I let my tears flow until I thought I had none left. I wailed and railed like a seven-year-old having a temper tantrum. I didn’t want to cry, but I couldn’t do anything but cry. Yesterday was a bad day—a bad hair day. Once again I have none (or very little), and I’m feeling sorry for myself. It was the result of miscommunication with my hairdresser. I should have stopped her, but I didn’t realize how short she was cutting it until I got outside and tried running my fingers through it, which I couldn't do; it’s like stubble! I liked the feel of having it blow in the wind. Now gale-force winds couldn’t move it. I’m a pinhead. I don’t want to be a pinhead. I don’t want to look like this again. What took all summer to grow is gone. After a half hour of snip, snip, snipping, I look like a boy. I don’t want to look like a boy. Like Samson, whatever strength I had was cut off and then swept away like refuse. I’m an emotional mess. Losing my hair last time was associated with losing my physical strength. Losing it this time has drained my emotional strength. I didn’t realize the reservoir was so depleted. I am empty. Why is losing two inches more traumatic than losing two feet?! It makes no sense. In May I was happy to have this much; now I’m devastated to have this little. I know I should be grateful to have any hair at all. I know I should be grateful that it’s not last year at this time. I know I have much more to be grateful for, and I am. In fact, I know that my distress really has little to do with my hair. That was just the event that opened the floodgate and released all of the insecurities that have been building up. I am well aware of the worth of everything I have; the problem is that I am feeling worthless about everything I am. No one seems to need or want the talents and abilities I have. To compensate for my growing inner doubts, I slowly began relying on looking good to salvage some sense of self-worth. Well, so much for that flawed plan! Looking good won’t be an option for quite some time. All day I’ve been reminded of the verse I was thinking about using on the cover of Loving God with All My Strength. “For Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). Dear God, do I really have to “delight” in this wretched condition before I’ll become strong? How weak do I have to become before strength sets in? I’m a wasteland of insecurities. Is this really the condition you want me in? I have no hair, and my life has no purpose. How much weaker do I have to get? Last year I learned what having no physical strength is like. Must I now experience emotional weakness to the same degree? In humble helplessness I pray that your answer is no.