Focus on God, Not Fear

This blog was originally posted on September 10, 2017.

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” Psalm 56:3

During the hottest part of the summer, I woke up at 6:00 a.m. to walk my dog, Lilly. Even though we left early, the temperature was already in the low 80s. Oklahoma summers can be brutal. One of the parks that we go to has a really pretty fountain on one end. On this particular day, we walked over to the fountain. It’s located in slight depression, so Lilly and I walked down the steps and circled the fountain a couple of times. She jumped up on the edge of the fountain, peered into the water, and promptly jumped in, startling me. She resurfaced and started paddling for the edge, but she couldn’t reach it to get out on her own. I lifted her out of the water, and she took off running to dry off, dragging me behind her as I held onto her leash with all my strength. Continue reading “Focus on God, Not Fear”

More Summer Adventures with Lilly Doggins

“The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.” (Prov 12:10)

Hi, friends! It’s Lilly Doggins again. Mom said I could tell you more about our summer adventures. But first, I have to tell you something—I think my mom has lost her mind. She took me to the V-E-T again (she still thinks I can’t spell that word) to have my teeth cleaned. This’ll be the third trip this summer! I don’t know why I needed to have my teeth cleaned. I chew on DentaSticks every day. Just because my breath didn’t smell like roses before. It does now, and my pearly whites gleam. Friends, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, but I’d still appreciate your prayers for Mom to stop taking me to that place. Continue reading “More Summer Adventures with Lilly Doggins”

Lingering with Lilly

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Rom 12:12)

Lilly pulls me down the street, tugging hard at her leash. She stops abruptly to sniff around the bottom of the neighbor’s trash can. She walks two steps and sniffs a spot on the ground, and then wanders into the road to sniff a piece of gravel. Satisfied, she takes off again, only to careen into the yard two houses down to sniff something in the grass that I can’t see. Continue reading “Lingering with Lilly”

Time to Rest and Recharge

“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’” (Mk 6:31)

On a recent drive home from visiting my parents, I thought of around five blog post ideas in the span of an hour and half. Because I couldn’t write them down, I dictated them into my phone to transcribe later. Once one idea formed, the rest flowed quickly – so quickly, I felt I almost couldn’t keep up. Continue reading “Time to Rest and Recharge”

Focus on God, Not Fear

Staci and Lilly, out for a walk

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” Psalm 56:3

During the hottest part of the summer, I woke up at 6:00 a.m. to walk my dog, Lilly. Even though we left early, the temperature was already in the low 80s. Oklahoma summers can be brutal. One of the parks that we go to has a really pretty fountain on one end. On this particular day, we walked over to the fountain. It’s located in slight depression, so Lilly and I walked down the steps and circled the fountain a couple of times. She jumped up on the edge of the fountain, peered into the water, and promptly jumped in, startling me. She resurfaced and started paddling for the edge, but she couldn’t reach it to get out on her own. I lifted her out of the water, and she took off running to dry off, dragging me behind her as I held onto her leash with all my strength. Continue reading “Focus on God, Not Fear”