R.I.P. Murphy-Part 1

“But others have lost so much more...he was just a dog!” Sometimes, as I struggle through this process, I find that I’m condemning myself for being such a baby. The Lord is quick to console me and help me conquer those thoughts that I wrestle with. He reminds me that He sees our hurt no matter its source. He holds our every tear and he calms our every fear.


Murphy was indeed a gift from God. This fact is best proven when I recall the day my mom and I took the girls to pick him out. A swarm of puppies scurried all around us. During my younger years, I had two completely white dogs. I kept picking up these cute little tri-colored Lhasa-Maltese babies and asking my daughters, “What about this one?” After several attempts, I gave up. Cradled in the arms of my two little angels, was the snow white bundle of fur that God had predestined to be our dog. What were the odds that they would both decide on the same one? He certainly was not just a dog!

He's the one standing up in the back left side of the basket. 

The picture below was a recent picture of him.

Trials have been so rampant in my life the last half of 2013. It is written in the Bible that struggles reform us and make us more Christ like. Scripture even instructs us to count it all joy when you face them. It’s taken me many years, but I get that now. I was seeing the “BLESSONS” that were being learned and even thanking God for loving me enough to change me for the better.

So…

• I thought that I was a more mature Christian now.
• I thought that I had refined my belief and strengthened my faith.
• I was sure I could pray this little guy back to good health.
• I laid hands on him…I quoted scripture…I asked the Holy Spirit to intercede on my behalf if I left anything out.

God had different plans.

On Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at around 10:29 p.m., I contacted the first loved ones with a text to tell them that Murphy was playing with the angels now. Oh the irony of the time, 10:29. A sure sign from God just as I explained in one of my earlier blog posts, I Was Born for This. A wave of peace washed over me and I thanked the Lord for being with me always.

I’ll never be able to fully explain the wave of peace and simultaneous strength that rose up from deep within my soul earlier that evening. I was trying to figure out what to do and the next thing I knew, I was getting dressed and warming up my car. Never, in a million years, would I have envisioned a solo trip to the vet to put down my beloved Murph. The Holy Spirit took over that night. No doubt about it! I thank God that He put me into an autopilot like mode so that what needed to be done could in fact be done.

Again, by the grace of God, I never cried while it happened. I looked deep into his eyes and said, “I’m so sorry, I love you, and I’ll see you on the other side.” This night was the first night he had not been responding to the pain meds. His body had been so stiff, but this was peaceful. It was like a huge, long awaited exhale. He slowly collapsed into my arms and we parted ways until we can be together again throughout eternity in paradise.

I can’t understand for sure what God wants me to learn from this, but I trust Him because I know for certain that He was with us through this whole ordeal. After leaving the Pet Hospital on Tuesday, December 10th, I was praying and asking God what to do. Murphy was looking at me from the passenger seat. As I rounded the corner from Rose Street to head south onto Northland Drive, I saw something that settled my soul and gave me steadfast assurance of God’s presence. I’ve lived in this community for a long time and I had never noticed that building before. As the last words of my request to the Lord left my lips, the address plate hanging above the door caught my eye. I thanked God for being with us always through the tears that were streaming down my face.

A Baby's Blessing

A few days ago we celebrated the birth of a baby who would transform our lives. As we gave gifts, I hope we kept at the forefront of our minds the most precious gift that we will ever receive. I can’t imagine being a part of the events that unfolded so long ago. When I really want to think back to the magnitude of that special time, I like to listen to these two songs...

Mary Did You Know? I've never heard this version by CeeLo Green. I love it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF5PFfPa-kM

A Baby Changes Everything by Faith Hill

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D-DH9aT3bs

There is nothing more precious than the birth of a new baby. Last summer, God gave me such a deep desire to pray for new little lives that are born unto us. The urge to write a specific prayer was conceived from a new-found understanding of a very popular bible verse.

Proverbs 22:6 instructs us to, “Train a child up in the way they should go and they will not depart from it.” My understanding of this verse seemed adequate enough in my earliest years as a Christian. I thought it had something to do with disciplining children; if we teach them to behave when they are young, they will grow up to conduct themselves well.

As I matured in my faith, I thought that the verse implied the importance of immersing our children in the knowledge that Jesus is real so that they would always seek to serve and honor Him. The latter view is closer to what I interpret that verse to mean these days but my perception of it has been fine tuned and sharpened since I read, Cure for the Common Life: Living in Your Sweet Spot by Max Lucado. Never before, has the content of a book penetrated my innermost thoughts the way that one does.

I found this version of the that famous bible verse at http://www.biblegateway.com/ and it clarifies my thinking even more...

Proverbs 22:6  Amplified Bible (AMP)
6 Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Six new little lives, and many others I’m sure, have blessed people in my hometown since August of this year. These are the families I know and love: Ross & Alison: Luke & Harper, Caleb & Ashley: Elaina, Matt & Amber: Gavin, Jake & Karen: Stella, and Dan & Michelle: McKinley. I dedicate this post to these families, but I speak forth this prayer in honor of all babies uniquely created by the grace of our Father.

A Baby’s Blessing

Heavenly Father, I thank for new little lives.

All babies are hand created and hand selected by You to serve a divine purpose here on this earth.

You form each and every child with certain unique gifts.

I pray that the caregivers will be keen observers of these emerging lives. Adults need to take note of each child’s “gifts” so that they can be nurtured towards their individual bent.

This would allow the child to grow and mature into their “sweet spot”; the place where our God given interests, abilities, and talents intersect. Our sweet spot...there’s no better place to dwell during our brief existence here.

First, it brings glory and honor to You, Father.

Second, it leads the lost, hurting, and dying to You so that they can be saved.

Finally, there is no greater joy for us than to be fulfilling Your will for our lives.

I am expecting, believing, and speaking forth an abundance of peace, protection, provision, and prosperity for these children, according to Your riches and glory, not what we think we know as valuable in this world. Your provision is so much greater than what we could ever ask, hope, or pray for. Let Your favor surround them and their parents like a shield.

In the name of Jesus, I thank you Father that You’ve heard this prayer.