Yesterday, our dogs were in BIG trouble! We have been trying very hard to contain our dogs in our "yard". We allow them to run free on about 6 acres and then on the fields to the east and west of our house but they know that they are not allowed to cross the street in front of our house. For the most part, they do a good job at staying where they are supposed to. Well, I caught them not just once, but twice in the field across the road. Their punishment for crossing the road is being tied up to a tree in our back yard. Oh, how they hate to be tied up but as we all know, there must be consequences for our bad decisions.

If you look very closely at the pictures, there is a squirrel on the side of the tree. We don't see many squirrels around here, but there just happened to be one yesterday. The dogs went crazy being tied up and not able to chase said squirrel and he antagonized them most of the afternoon. Just one more example to me of making good choices makes life so much more enjoyable but the consequences of the bad ones, is enough to drive me crazy!

James 4:11-12 "Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?"

Who am I? Who are you? God knew how we would struggle with loving others. In many scriptures, God tells us to show love. Why is it that we think we know so much better? Why is it that we allow our emotions to override God's commands to us?

PRIDE and SELFISHNESS. Those prideful thoughts of "I'm better than you" "You can't make that mistake on me" "I deserve better" "Do you know who I am?" "I give, give, give and I get nothing"

Any sound familiar to you? Me, too. We will only be able to control our sinful tongue, heart and mind, when we fully humble ourselves and submit to our Lord. It's only His love and mercy that can shine through us to be a blessing to others. Will you let Him shine through you today?

Have a great day

Living fearlessly in Christ

Christie