We went puppy shopping this weekend. Knowing how these adorable fur balls tempt me, I did a little research to protect me from an emotional decision I might live to regret. I discovered a puppy temperament assessment test. Part of the test checks the degree of dominance or submissiveness by holding the pup on his back for 30 seconds. A puppy that continues to struggle and never settles under your hand tends to be dominant and may bite under stress. One that struggles and then relaxes will be more flexible and able to handle stress well. No struggle may indicate insecurity. (Read More)
Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20 NIV
“Lord, thank You for this situation. We trust You to bring good from it,” and so the prayers went, offered one by one by various students. I sat in the back of the bus praying too, but my silent prayers took a different tone.
“Lord, don’t listen to these people. They are crazy. I am not thankful we are broken down, and I want to get to the retreat!” (Read More)
“Just keep it simple, Debbie,” my friend advised. I want to “keep it simple,” but sometimes life isn’t simple. That morning as I was trying to share something with Larry as he was rushing out the door he interrupted me to ask about our dog. “You are leaving, and you want me to stop and take care of the dog?
” Thirty minutes later a neighbor’s cat snatched a bird from our bird feeder. Not a very calming sight from your kitchen table, especially since you lured the birds by feeding them. The sight sent my daughter off to work in tears and upset with me. Somehow it was my fault the cat got the bird. (Read More)
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32 NIV
I wonder why Jesus prayed that Simon’s faith would not fail. It seems it would have been better to pray that Simon would not fail. Yet James 3:2 says, “We all stumble in many ways.” If Peter had passed this night without fault he faced other failings up ahead. Learning that failure doesn’t have to sideline us is the more important lesson. (Read More)
Monday, November 28th, 2011 
We went puppy shopping this weekend. Knowing how these adorable fur balls tempt me, I did a little research to protect me from an emotional decision I might live to regret. I discovered a puppy temperament assessment test. Part of the test checks the degree of dominance or submissiveness by holding the pup on his back for 30 seconds. A puppy that continues to struggle and never settles under your hand tends to be dominant and may bite under stress. One that struggles and then relaxes will be more flexible and able to handle stress well. No struggle may indicate insecurity. (Read More)