Let’s Not Be A Cat Stuck Up A Tree. #UNITE Linky

We almost called the fire department. We didn’t know what else to do.

She had been up the there for days. We could barely see her, but her faint cry rang out among the neighboring trees, the branches leaning like a canopy, covering her from the owl, eagles, and hawks that would likely hunt her.

She wasn’t too old, but old enough to be outside. Why is it we thought instinct would bring down our fluffy-tailed feline, the one who was still learning what it means to live outside?

Night came, up fifty feet, she leaped down a few branches as my daughter’s voice pleaded with her…

But then, she got afraid. Climbed higher. As if limbs alone had the power to protect her.

My husband leaned in the ladder. She froze in wonderment. Our twenty-five foot ladder not even close to touching the limb that held her constant cries, her desperate eyes, beckoning for someone to rescue her.

Night and day, night and day, we played this game.

Our kitten climbed lower as if to escape the tree, but then would run back up, frightened by a neighboring dog, a strange sound, or just her own inhibitions that kept her from walking in the fullness and freedom on solid ground where those who loved her were waiting.

And at the end of these three days and two nights of wondering if our kitten stuck in a tree would survive, I can see the parallel with this cat and my own faith.

Joshua 1:9 tells us, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Yet, how easy it is to venture toward callings, in pursuit of our mission, but then just when we get near to where we’re going, fear tries to drive us away from solid ground, lies in our ear can move us in the opposite direction of where He plans for us to go.

And we can play this game, toward our purpose, then away from it, back and forth over and over again, as if double minded in our call, uncertain of His purposes.

We leave church or hear a good sermon and race towards our calling, but then
moments later someone’s opinions discourage us, or our own fear and inhibitions, intimidation or questions drive us safe under shelter, out from the open, where His love can rescue and
lead us.

Scripture is such a great reminder, He has called us to live with one purpose; to live by Him, through Him, in Him, and for Him.

Wavering back and forth can limit our effectiveness, diminish His radiance, and hinder us from completing the full purpose He has called and ordained for us to live.“Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” (1 John 5:5) “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the  glory of God?” (John 11:40)

And yet, we can waver. We can be like that cat, coming up and down, uncertain of our direction or frozen in fear, hesitant to take one more step in the direction He is calling us.

• But what if we took that step?
• What if we heard His voice and nothing else?
• What if we followed His call and purposes and let His Spirit guide us, His Word be the lamp unto our feet and light unto our path, truly?
• What if we choose faithfulness (Psalms 119:30) because we have set on our hearts the laws of the Lord, declaring with our mouths, “Jesus is Lord”, truly believing in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead? (Romans 10:9)

How might our journey look different?  

Our kitten didn’t come down by prompting, food, or a ball of yarn. After three days, it was the love of our oldest daughter that coaxed her down to safety.

In the same way, we have a loving Father who calls and reaches to us. He beckons and invites us, waits for us to fall freely into the safety of His arms.

Will we sit back in hesitancy, freeze in fear, climb higher in our own self-reliance…Or will we jump to where He calls, pursuing us with His loving-kindness?

How might our life change if we stopped retreating, and lived like we really believe, we are loved deeply by the King of Kings, made to be held tightly in His presence, loved and appreciated? How would we live differently?

Friends, it has been A-M-A-Z-I-N-G fasting Facebook the past three weeks! (More on that later) With all my extra time, I actually added three new pages, under “faith” on the menu. You can find them, here…

Trials?

What Is Your True Identity?

What Does Praise & Thanksgiving Have to Do With Anything?

Now, let’s UNITE our blogs together in one UNIFIED community, focusing on our similarities, not our differences, connecting by faith, not fear and intimidation…

UNITE LINK PARTY

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