I never would have dreamed I could fall in love with a bulldog. I didn’t grow up with pets in the house; my mother did not allow it. (Except for the one time our beautiful Irish Setter somehow got in while we were gone to church. When Mom walked through the door, there he sat on her new living room chair, proud as he could be of his burglar techniques!)
Carrying that clean-freak trait with me when I got married, I couldn’t imagine having a pet in the house, nor did I dream my kids would either.
Enter Kristopher. He has a problem. He is a neat freak too. Mr. Clean, we call him at times. He might get busy and things get a little cluttered every once in a while but it will drive him crazy until he can deep clean and put things back in order.
Enter Eisley Quinn.
This little bundle of short fur has changed everything. Kristopher wanted a dog for the longest time and finally took the plunge with Eisley, a registered English Bulldog.
Eisley was the runt of the litter so thankfully, she is not going to be this 100 pound old dog sitting on the couch with the remote in her hand in years to come. She is still adorable. In a bulldog kind of way.
Kristopher has taught Eisley a few tricks and is doing his best to instill some manners in her. Sometimes he is successful, sometimes not so much.
One trick that he is especially proud of is at meal time. As soon as Eisley hears her bowl being filled with delicious nuggets of doggie heaven, she runs. Literally. But when she arrives, all in anticipation of the flavors of chicken, tuna and rice that she is about to experience in a gourmet meal, the wind is taken from her sails when Kristopher says, “Sit.” Sternly.
So she sits. She waits. A little impatiently but she waits. He might have to point and repeat himself as she slyly edges forward a bit. But she sits.
This part drives ME crazy. I want to give in, just let her have her food for crying out loud. I remind Kristopher I would never have made him wait for his dinner.
Then all of a sudden, with Eisley’s eyes locked on her master, he says those coveted words:
Take it.
Boom, she is on it like no tomorrow. She doesn’t just saunter over casually and sniff around. She takes it! She zooms in on it and devours what she has been blessed to have.
I’ve thought a lot about those two words this week.
Take it.
We have been blessed in so many ways as the people of the Most High God. He wants to give us even more spiritual blessings and power that we cannot contain. It is ours but we don’t take it.
With the power of the Holy Ghost residing within us we have that same power that Jesus used to raise the dead, heal the sick and set people free from the bondage of sin. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. ‘Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.’” John 14:12-13 ESV.
We limit the power of God every single day. Either because of lack of faith, confidence or sometimes just pure laziness, we fail to tap into the resources He has left with us. Look at those words again, “The works that I do, he will do also.” Anyone who believes in Jesus Christ!
But there is more. He said GREATER WORKS than these would WE do in His name so that the Father would be glorified.
What can we believe Him for today? Do we truly want an outpouring of His spirit in these last days? Do we want to see our friends and loved ones saved and ready to meet Jesus? Do we want to have the power to overcome (we’re going to need it, friends!) no matter what is sent our way? Do we want to have enough of the Holy Ghost within us to even lay down our lives if it is necessary?
Jesus holds all of that power in His hands and He is holding it out for us as a gift. It belongs to us according to His Word.
Revival.
Friends and Family saved.
Needs met.
Signs and wonders. (His Word declared we would have them!)
Miracles of healing and deliverance.
Strength to overcome in these last and evil days.
Joy unspeakable!
It is ours for the taking!
Can you imagine a parent holding out a beautifully wrapped present to their child and them just standing there trying to decide if they have the energy to reach out and grab it? No! That child trusts the mom or dad with the gift in their hands and isn’t about to turn down a free doll, truck, game or new underwear!
Can you imagine the frustration of our Lord in these last days? There we stand, caught up in worry, stress and busyness that we don’t even look to Him for help, nor do we realize He is standing there with the answer.
May we realize our place today, the most exciting time to be alive and to be The Church! God has not called the disciples to be here in the endtime. He has called you and me. Let us rise to the occasion, in anticipation like Eisley, knowing our Master has trained us, equipped us and given us all we need to succeed.
Take it!
Don’t forget your copy of The Daniel Fast, A Devotional. Great for ANY FAST or prayer journey. On Amazon in paperback and Kindle and Barnes and Noble too! Be blessed!
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Love me some Eisley, lol. We are actually babysitting again this week while my son has a few things done in his apartment. Love what you said how we squander the gift that God wants to give us…every single day. Help us Lord to take it! Blessings.
Oh so cute!
You drew me in with that puppy of yours. She’s so smart! It’s funny as you spoke of her and how she waits on her master it was so clear to me. Oh how we squander the gift that our God offers to us daily. If only we realized that we just need to “Take It”. Thank you so much for this I loved it and needed it. ♥
Your blog is great Heather! I have fibromyalgia too and need to blog about it more…so many seem to suffer with it and there is strength in community. Your bulldog looks alot like our Eisley!! So sweet. Blessings to you and I’m your newest follower on Bloglovin’. ♥
You made me LOL with the Preach it, Sister! It truly is sitting there waiting for us isn’t it? Amen!
That’s my prayer too, Shauna. So happy you stopped by and commented. Love you!!
Survivor is a great name for a dog! I will have to tell my son to try that trick with Eisley. You are so right, they totally care about those that love them and they show it every day all day! I gasped at 25 dogs, lol, but God bless you for loving the unlovable!!! Blessings. ♥
Amen, Mary, Seize the Day! I am preaching to myself. 🙂 Blessings on you friend!!
Picks up his toys? Wow! Lol, Eisley eats hers! They sure steal your heart don’t they? Thanks so much for sharing and taking the time to comment. Blessings!
So happy you stopped by! I am in Indiana too, in Bloomington, when we aren’t on the road with our ministry. So glad to meet you and visit your blog as well. Please come back!! ♥
I seriously smiled BIG when I got to “Squirrel!” lol, that was great. Isn’t Eisley something? We are too over-the-top with this one. We need grandbabies! Thank you for the hug dear friend, right back at you ♥
I very often think we are like the dog that misses completely the blessings God is offering us because . . . “Squirrel!” We lose our focus, running after something we “think” we want. But it is so very elusive and not nearly as good as the gift our Master is offering right in front of us! Love your analogy AND your dog! He is an absolute doll! Hug his neck for me . . . and while you’re at it, consider yourself cyber-hugged as well, Nannette! Love the encouragement you share here, my friend!
You had my attention at the dog story. I’ve always had dogs and the hardest part of leaving Indiana was not being able to take my beloved Lab – Patrick – with me. But don’t worry, he went to a farm with a new brother dog. I just know they are getting into all kinds of antics. But then I continued to read and my heart filled with joy at the thought of all God has for us each day. Today I’m going to “take it.” Thanks so much for sharing !!!
Cute doggie. I thought I would never have one in the house either. My son brought this little Texas blue Lacy home and it was cold and he was so tiny he became our house dog. So stinkin’ smart -even picked up his toys.
This reminds me to seize the day! Each day we are given is a gift – are we living it like God intended? Thank you for reminding us that we are the church and the time is now. Throw away the busyness and seize the day. Great message!
Cute dog too! Hope you are doing well! Blessed by these words today!
Survivor the Rottweiler is learning “Take it”…with a treat balanced on his nose. He LOVES the game. Doesn’t really care about food…he cares about pleasing us.
And we have 25 dogs…22 of whom live inside, and, as I write this, fourteen are asleep within ten feet of me. (We have a sanctuary for unwanted and abused dogs.)
Great post! So true if we can only grasp it, believe, take it. God help me to move forward.
Preach it, sister! Your bulldog is adorable, and what an analogy! So much that God wants to give us is ours for the taking. But we don’t take Him up on it! Thanks for this powerful message.
So cute! I have an English Bulldog too!
http://dogmomchic.blogspot.com/