52 Devotions for Cat Lovers E-Book

BroadStreet Publishing Group LLC

• Herausgeber: BroadStreet Publishing Group, LLC
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Seitenzahl: 129

Beschreibung

Your feline friend can teach you a lot about the peace and patience of God. Is there anyone more content napping in the sunshine or looking out the window than your cat companion? It's like they are wired to sit and enjoy life, taking in the beauty of all that surrounds them. And if you'll sit for a while with them, you might find yourself unwinding as you quietly contemplate the deep mysteries of life. 52 Devotions for Cat Lovers is filled with cute stories, inspiring devotions, prayers, thought-provoking questions, and fun facts about cats that demonstrate the peace, joy, patience, and goodness of God. Curl up with your kitty and be encouraged as you spend a few moments with God. Let his quiet love and grace wash over you and give you confidence and strength for each day.  

Leseprobe

BroadStreet Publishing Group LLC

Savage, Minnesota, USA

Broadstreetpublishing.com

52 DEVOTIONS FOR CAT LOVERS

© 2019 by BroadStreet Publishing®

978-1-4245-6499-6 (faux)978-1-4245-6500-9 (ebook)

Devotional entries composed by Michelle Cox, Sylvia Schroeder, Lori Brown, Linda Gilden, and Edie Melson.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™ Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Lockman.org. Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Design and typesetting by Garborg Design Works | garborgdesign.comEditorial services by Michelle Winger | literallyprecise.com

Printed in China.

22 23 24 25 26  5 4 3 2 1

Contents

INTRODUCTION

IS THAT FOR ME?

GET ME OUT

READY TO POUNCE

BE STILL

I CHOOSE YOU

A HAIRCUT

DON’T FEED THE STRAY

UNEXPECTED

MERRY CHRISTMESS

FRIVOLOUS PURRSUITS

DON’T MESS WITH ME

GOD SEES

GOING AFTER TREASURE

I’D RATHER BE HOME

SCAREDY-CAT

ALL ALONE

BLOCKING THE LIGHT

A GUILTY CONSCIENCE

SPACE

DROWNING IN TROUBLE

GOOD DISCERNMENT

CAT DRAGGED IN

HIGH AND MIGHTY

HEAVEN’S GREATEST HOPE

GODLY GOOFBALL

PINNED

PUBLICLY PERSISTENT

SCENT OF THE SAVIOR

TRUST HIS TIMING

FANCY AND FORMAL

VANISHING VISITOR

IT’S DARK IN HERE!

WORTH CHASING

PERSEVERE

PURPOSE

SPECIFIC PRAYER

FISH OR KITTEN?

CONSTANT COMFORT

WATCHING OR SERVING?

ASK BOLDLY

HERE KITTY!

IMPROVED HEALTH

A GOOD NAME

THE ANGEL CAT

JOY IN HARDSHIP

WARMED BY THE LIGHT

WITH US

LOVING THE UNLOVABLE

RESIST TEMPTATION

FACING GOLIATH

ALWAYS ON TIME

WORK FOR US

SOURCES FOR FUN FACTS

INTRODUCTION

All of us search for a special friend who will love us, spend time with us, make us laugh, and be our daily companion. For many people, that special friend comes in the form of a cat who steals their heart… and takes over their life!

Yes, cats can be finicky. Some have pretty big attitudes. They can be stand-offish at times, and they are geniuses at making messes. Still, those balls of fur bring endless joy.

We spend fun-filled hours playing with our cats, laughing as their eyes flick back and forth and their tails twitch wildly as they are tempted by a piece of yarn. We curl up with them on our laps, listening to their contented purrs.

Despite their reputation for being finicky, cats are quick to sense when we’re upset. At times, they provide comfort when they notice our tears, rubbing up against us and staying close by.

Cats also give us spiritual and life lessons, and that’s what you’ll discover in this book. Each chapter contains a devotion, a prayer, a Bible verse, a question for reflection, and a fun fact about cats.

Curl up with your favorite kitty and spend time reading about the God-moments we uncover when hanging out with our feline friends.

IS THAT FOR ME?

The LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel!Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”

1 SAMUEL 3:10 ESV

The minute I answered the phone, I knew the customer was annoyed. He was so angry I was surprised smoke wasn’t coming through the receiver. “Look, lady, I’ve left two or three messages on your answering machine and asked someone to call me back. Don’t you want my business?”

Several customers had called recently saying they’d left messages and nobody had returned their calls. I was puzzled. Maybe our machine was malfunctioning, or perhaps our sons had listened to the messages without saving them.

It remained a mystery until one day when I was polishing the furniture in the office. I heard a thud and turned around to see that our cat had jumped onto my husband’s desk.

She stood there, her tail swishing back and forth like a symphony conductor’s wand, then she inched across the desk, her eyes fixed on the flashing red light on the answering machine.

I watched as she extended her paw and pushed the play button next to the flashing light. She waited until my recorded greeting completed, and then as the messages began playing, she sprawled on the desk and listened to them. Once they ended, she jumped up and stalked from the room.

I giggled as I imagined the office door sign, “No Cats Allowed During Business Hours.” I was ready the next time an irate customer phoned. “Sir, I’m sorry. The cat listened to your message and she must not have hit the save button.”

I wonder how many times God has sent a message to us and we let distractions in our lives keep us from hearing his voice. Like young Samuel in the Bible, we should be waiting whenever God wants to speak to us. What if—just like our cat secretary—we’d listen, soaking in every word, until God completes the message he wants us to hear?

It would be such a shame to have the God of the universe stop by to tell us something, and we miss out on the wise counsel and words of love he has for us.

Father, sometimes I don’t listen to your messages in the way that I should. Life and busyness get in the way. Give me ears that hear and a spirit that’s attuned to you. Help me to hear your gentle whispers and to take your messages to heart. You are such a big God and it still boggles my mind that you want to talk to me. Remind me of what’s really important each day, and help me to share your messages of hope, grace, mercy, and love with those who need to hear about them.

PAWS TO THINK

What can young Samuel in the Bibleteach us about listening for God’s voice?

DID YOU KNOW

Cats have over twenty musclesthat control their ears.

GET ME OUT

The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,to all who call upon Him in truth.

PSALM 145:18 NKJV

My three little boys looked at me with tear-stained faces. “Mama, you’ve got to do something!” As I glanced up at the tree where they were staring, I realized we might have a problem. A very big problem. One that I didn’t have a clue how to fix.

I walked out to the yard. When I got there, I heard a pitiful “Meoooow!” coming from the tree. From my new vantage point, I realized the situation was even worse than I’d thought. Our gray tabby was on a branch about fifty feet up. Thankfully, my sons hadn’t attempted to climb the tree to rescue her, but somehow I suspected they thought I should.

My husband set up our tallest ladder and tried to coax Fluffy into coming down to where he could reach her. When that didn’t work, I handed him a can of tuna, hoping that the aroma would lure the cat, but no go. The tears flowed in earnest from the pint-sized audience. The frantic meows continued.

We’d done everything we knew to do, but one thing was evident—that cat was stuck.

Maybe some of you can relate. Not to being stuck in a tree, but to being stuck by your circumstances. By situations where you can’t see any solution. Where desperation overwhelms you and hopelessness brings tears to your eyes. Maybe you’ve tried all you knew to do.

The starting point to becoming unstuck begins with what we did with our sons that afternoon when Fluffy was stuck in the tree. We prayed, telling God we didn’t know what to do, and asking him to get their beloved kitty safely from the tree. Soon after that, Fluffy gathered the courage to climb down from her lofty perch.

God promises that he is near us if we’ll just call upon him. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, he says that he will make the way of escape. There’s hope, sweet friends. You can take heart because God answers prayer and help is on the way.

Father, I’m stuck today and I feel like there’s no way out, like there’s no solution to my problems. My heart is so heavy. I’ve tried everything I know to do to fix the situation, but nothing is getting any better. I realize now where I went wrong. I should have turned it over to you from the beginning. I should have prayed instead of whining and fretting. Today I place my problems in your oh-so-capable hands. Work out what is best for me and give me peace while I wait until the answer arrives.

PAWS TO THINK

Why is it that we so often try to fixour problems instead of placing themin God’s hands?

DID YOU KNOW

A cat can’t climb head-first down a tree becauseevery claw on a cat’s paw points the same way.To get down from a tree, a cat must back down.

READY TO POUNCE

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks aboutlike a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

1 PETER 5:8 NKJV

I watched our cat from my kitchen window. From the way he was hunched over, I could tell he was doing something, but I wasn’t close enough to see what was happening. I eased outside and quietly worked my way over to where he was in the yard… and then I wished I hadn’t.

As I neared our cat, I realized that he was playing with a mouse. The mouse would try to run away, and the cat would let him take a step or two. Then a paw would shoot out and pounce on the mouse’s tail so he couldn’t escape.

The paw would lift again, giving the mouse freedom. The cat would let him go a short distance, and then he’d pounce again.

I sat a safe distance away and watched. That cat played with that mouse for a long time. Pounce. Release. Pounce. Trap him again. I watched the mouse grow weary. I didn’t stay around long enough to see how the game of cat and mouse ended, but I suspect I know what happened.

Our lives are much like that of the mouse in my yard. Our adversary, Satan, lies in wait to pounce on us. He loves warfare and making our lives difficult especially when we’re doing big things for God or trying to serve him with all our hearts.

Satan loves to trap us in our circumstances. Look at what he did to Job. His oxen and donkeys were stolen, and his farmhands were killed. Fire burned up his sheep and shepherds. His camels were stolen, and his servants were killed. And then the worst news of all, Job’s children died when a powerful wind caused their house to collapse on them.

As Job learned, nothing can happen to us that God doesn’t allow, and those difficult situations gave Job a closeness to God he’d never have had otherwise. Don’t let Satan defeat you today from accomplishing the tasks God has called you to do. Satan will never win when he’s up against the one who is in control of us and our circumstances.

God, sometimes I feel like my life is a constant stream of warfare. It seems I can’t catch my breath from one difficult circumstance before another one arrives. I try so hard to live for you. That’s the desire of my heart. I want to accomplish the purpose that you have for me to fulfill, but I’ll admit that I’m weary in the journey. Please encourage my heart. Remind me that you have the power to defeat all of Satan’s attacks. Use these situations to draw me closer to you and help me to learn what you want me to from these moments.

PAWS TO THINK

What can we learn from how Jobresponded to his circumstancesand how can we apply that to our lives?

DID YOU KNOW

A house cat’s genome is 95.6 percent tiger,and they share many behaviors with their jungleancestors. These behaviors include prey play,prey stalking, and pouncing.

BE STILL

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

PSALM 46:10 NKJV

I finally understood what my grandmother meant by “meet yourself coming and going.” Some days, my schedule was so busy that I felt bad about taking time for lunch. I’d begun waking up with a stress headache. Those headaches made me re-evaluate my priorities, and I realized I had lost my morning quiet time.

Before, my routine involved spending a portion of every morning reading my Bible and praying. Now, I’m not a morning person or especially dedicated. I’m not a person who can voluntarily wake up at 5:00. I’m a late-night person, so my mornings start slowly, usually around 8:00.

As I got busier, I started the day so far behind I would skimp on my time with God. It sounds awful to admit, but it’s true. The farther behind I got, the less time I spent with God—and the less time I spent with God, the farther behind I got. It took me a while to see the connection, and I didn’t discover it on my own. I got it from Emily Dickinson—my cat.

Emily has an unusual routine. Every afternoon, if I let her, she spends at least thirty minutes hanging out in my lap. I can be watching TV, knitting, or sitting at the computer, and up she hops. She stretches out, cradled in my arms, and rests. She is completely at ease. Sometimes, she’d fall to the ground if I didn’t support her. She is completely unconcerned about any danger, knowing that I will keep her safe.

As God’s children, we need that time of rest with him. We need to curl up in his arms, away from the trials of the day. He is always there, waiting for us, offering comfort and love.

Dear Lord, I’m in a familiar struggle. I’ve taken on too much, and I’m too busy. When will I ever learn? All this stress is taking a toll on me. I need you more than ever, but I have no time to spend with you. Please take over my schedule and fix it so it lines up with your priorities. Before I get into this situation again, step in and get my attention.

PAWS TO THINK

How do you make sure Godhas top priority in your schedule?

DID YOU KNOW

A cat has 230 bones in its body. A human has206. A cat has no collarbone, so it can fitthrough any opening the size of its head.