Life Coach

Spaniels and Dachshunds instinctively trail, flush out, and retrieve. A mix of both breeds, our young dog's instincts needed honing. Scout’s first encounter with a box turtle was entertaining. He had never seen one and had no clue what to do with it. Sensing no danger from the curious furry creature, the turtle slowly made its way across the backyard from one pond to the next. Scout was close by, sniffing it and the path it journeyed. He enjoyed “visiting” with other turtles making the same trek. His visits were pleasurable until he found a turtle in the workshop. As Scout began his customary nose-to-nose greeting, his “Daddy” warned him several times to leave this one alone. Disregarding the warnings, the turtle not only snapped at Scout but latched onto his nose. This one was not a harmless box turtle but a snapping turtle. Once he shook it off, Scout gave him the space he demanded. Some life lessons are painful.

Training and experience—two basics through which we learn. Using God's standards, we must teach children the right way of living, that which is God-honoring, to avoid life's pitfalls: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6). Such training takes commitment, and for the children's benefit, the trainer must persevere despite their cries of rejection. A loving, disciplinary hand is less painful than shaking off sin's snapping grip. Persevere in training the children entrusted to you. By doing so, they will learn to make correct choices, recognize the enemy's snares, and avoid needless pain. 

Sin's Entanglement

 Our little, short-legged dog finds joy running through tall grass, chasing squirrels, rabbits, birds, or running alongside the four-wheeler or golf cart. But with those pleasures comes a challenge—removing cockleburs. Scout tries to remove them, but some are out of reach or embedded, so I help, taking them off strand by strand of fur. He doesn’t seek my help, and there is no appreciation because it’s an uncomfortable ordeal. But unless dealt with, the intruders stick to each other, tangling themselves into his coat further and magnify the problem.

Sin is like cockleburs. When we live contrary to God’s commands (sin), one bur after another attaches itself to our life. Before long, they entangle and, efforts to remove them prove futile. Some are out of reach—others embed themselves. Even though we may not seek our Father’s aid, He lovingly steps in and begins disentangling, called discipline. His help is often uncomfortable, unappreciated, and at times painful: “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous. . .” (Hebrews 12:11a). 

If you are God’s child, He will discipline you (v. 7). If willful sinful living is a continual part of your life, and you don’t experience His correction, verse eight says you don’t belong to Him. The result of God’s chastening? “But afterward, there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” God’s chastisement is always for our good (v. 10b).

A Tail Tale

Our dog soon discovered the joy of chasing squirrels in his new country environment. As quick as he is, they are a little faster, but not too fast for our family's hunters. And following tradition, the squirrel's tail is a treat for the family dog. 

Unfamiliar with this hairy object, Scout wasn't sure what to do with it. After days of whining, playing with the tail, burying and unburying it, he did what he knew not to do—he walked into the house with it dangling from his mouth. I was about to scold him, but he sat down at my feet and looked up at me as if to say, "Please, help me, I don't know what to do with this thing!" He opened his mouth, dropped the grubby tail at my feet, then stood and pitifully walked away, never looking back. 

Scout knew the only way to end his misery was to drop his burden at my feet and trust me to free him of his suffering.

The apostle Paul underwent an internal war of the mind: ". . . When I would do good, evil is present with me.." (Romans 7:21). He knew what to do but instead did wrong and felt enslaved to sin, asking who could deliver him from the burden he carried. Paul then answered his question and thanked God for the fact that deliverance is found in Jesus Christ, our Lord (v. 24–25). 

No matter the size or situation, problems cause anguish that can affect us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. But you can drop your burdens at Jesus' feet and walk away, trusting He cares and will help you. When He does, don't look back.

The Bluff

 Our small spaniel puppy was willing to challenge the uninvited adolescent boxer after several visits despite their size differences. We managed to avert a confrontation until the day he appeared unexpectedly. Scout took off at full speed and, leaping into the air, barreled into him broadside. Yelping, the stray ran off, his nub tail tucked low with our small, short-legged, “faster than a speeding bullet” dog right behind him. Scout had no fear of his opponent; he was confident he could conquer his foe. Scout had the dog twice his size bluffed, but his actions proved his mindset. Having “mom and dad” stand with him helped.

Our adversary, the devil, is powerful and shows up unexpectedly. His roar can paralyze you; he prowls around looking to destroy lives (John 10:10). He wants to discourage and overwhelm you. He bluffs you into thinking life is hopeless and no one cares. But he is a liar! His bluff may hinder you, but he can’t bluff the Creator of all that exists. All-powerful God is greater than he, who is a defeated adversary.

The Bible admonishes us to be clear-minded and watchful for the devil’s tactics, firm in our faith as we stand against him (“. . .Whom resist steadfast in the faith. . .“ 1 Peter 5:9); confident the One who lives in us and stands with us has already conquered him that stalks this world. Do you confidently stand firm in faith as an overcomer against the enemy? Do your actions prove your faith?

The Door

 Once Scout was accustomed to our home after rescuing him from the animal shelter, he could go outside without supervision. One door is left slightly ajar so he can come and go as he pleases. But when the door is closed, it’s always for his good.

God gives us free will to “come and go” but wants us to choose wisely the life doors we enter. As a believer, when you decide to walk through doors contrary to God’s Word and no consequences follow right away, don’t assume it was unnoticed—it wasn’t. Results for wrong or poor choices will follow. When you walk according to His Word and find a closed door, it is always for your good. Asking or pleading with God to open closed doors outside of His perfect plan causes grief.

Life offers many doors, but only one has eternal value: “Then Jesus said unto them again, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep” (John 10:7). Jesus is the door to God’s sheepfold. He, the good shepherd, voluntarily laid His life down for us, and His resurrection provided the only way to the Father (John 14:6). All who enter the sheepfold will be saved and can go in and out freely. Under His watchful care, we find comfort, safety, pasture, and rest. 

Choose a Blessing

A trainer teaches a young dog simple orders, and once learned, the pup remembers and obeys them for life. His obedience pleases the instructor, blessings follow, and others benefit as well. God gave us basic commands to follow. Not everyone hears them at a young age, but we have the privilege to study His Word and learn what He expects; it’s our duty. Before entering the land of promise, He told His people, “Behold this day I set before you a blessing and a curse” (Deuteronomy 11:26). If they obeyed His instructions, blessings would follow. But consequences awaited the disobedient.

Jesus said two commandments cover them all: Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37). By learning and obeying these two rules, we honor God, live in favor of Him, and benefit others. God lays before us a blessing for obedience or a curse; our loving Father disciplines His children who stubbornly go their way. The decision is ours. Which will you choose?

God's Lollipops

After losing two family dogs, I didn’t think I would want another, but I did. We arrived at the animal rescue center, hoping to find a calm, quiet, non-licking dog, preferably a cocker spaniel. After viewing the dogs twice, only one stood silently and motionless except for his nub tail slightly moving. With captured hearts, we became proud owners of a seven-month-old, peculiar-looking, tri-color spaniel.

The psalmist, David, penned a simple truth: “Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” Psalm 37:4–5. God’s Word says when you want what God wants for you; when your desire is in keeping with His will, and you trust Him and commit your life to Him, He said you would have the desires of your heart. You may be thinking, Really, a dog? Yes, even a dog. God knows everything we need to become who He called us to be. With love and compassion, He not only supplies what we need to fulfill His purposes but far surpasses those needs with an abundance of blessings—some sweet as lollipops, like a dog.

As you commit yourself to God today, seek His perfect will, and say, “Father, not my will, but Yours.” When you do, “He shall bring it to pass.” You will receive His best.