My cat never ceases to amaze me. I will start to walk out the backdoor, and there will be a dead mouse or a dead lizard waiting on me on the steps. I have seen this more times than I would like to tell you about... but it still catches me off guard everytime. Why in the world would she think that I would be impressed by that?? Yuck!! I have been told that she is proud of the job that she has done and wants me to see it. She is bringing her best offering to me.
One of my worst nightmares came true one day when she brought her offering inside to me. The main problem was that the lizard wasn't completely dead. My little one and I were the only ones home. We screamed like a bunch of girls... we stomped our feet, waved our arms, and tried to call my husband home to help... but finally we had to put on our brave girl panties and take care of it ourselves. Together we were able to sweep it up onto the dust pan and scream all the way to the door to throw it back outside. It took us about an hour to recover.
As I thought about this the other day, I realized that I often do the same thing to God. I take pride in something that I have done, and I drag it to God and want Him to be impressed. Oh, look... I spent two hours in my prayer time today, I continue to tithe to dispite our financial problems, I have a Bible study at my house, I serve in my church, I , I , I , I ....
Scripture tells me in Isaiah 64:6...
"...all our righteous acts are like filthy rags..."
I wonder if it looks or smells like a dead mouse to the eyes and nose of God when I drag my accomplishments or acts to him in pride??
Micah 6:8 tells me what God desires from me...
"He has shown you O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you?? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
I want to be beautiful in God's eyes. If He finds me beautiful... it will be because I am acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with Him... not because I am dragging my filthy rags to His doorstep trying to impress Him.
Thanks again, Miss Kitty.
1Peter 3:15
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared in give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
10 comments:
I often run into little lizards in my flower beds...sometims they make me squeal and they would for sure make me squeal if they found their way into my house...
Speaking of kitties...I haven't had one deposit anything in my house 'cause my hubby's allergic so I can't have one indoors. There is one, however, that lives next door yet he seems to find his way into my garage most days. Well, one night I had closed all the doors and was headed up to bed walking around the corner and up the stairs...suddenly about half way up, something rather large and furry scooted between my legs as it was "tearing off" down the steps...I'm not sure who jumped higher, me or the cat, but you can bet it was a miracle I caught the handrails and didn't break my neck...it was my neighbor's black cat who had snuck in with our comings and goings...that made me a believer in always turning my hallway light on before heading up the steps. : )
I'm not sure I would try to capture that lizard. I would have probably put a bowl or something over it! Too funny. Once when I was single and in nursing school I came home to find the biggest hairiest brown spider in my bedroom. It lifted it's two front legs at me when I approached. I swear it was the size of my palm. I threw my nursing shoe at it and it bounced off it (i'm not kidding) and then it went into my closet. I then sprayed it with foam carpet cleaner and placed a bowl over it and one of my heavy nursing books onto the bowl until my boyfriend of the time could come over and dispose of it. It was a wolf spider...HATE THEM!!!
In His Graces~Pamela
I would probably have left it there until my husband came home and locked myself in my bedroom. I did that once when we first got married over a grasshopper. You see I don't like anything that crawls, hops, slithers, jumps, no spiders, NOTHING. You two were brave.
That was funny, Lynn, and so humbling at the same time. (I read it out loud to my hubby and he loved it too...He said it was a great application!)
I am such a visual learner, so that was once again, perfect!
And on a silly note, I had a live frog in the kitchen once, (and the toilet three times, but that's a different story), anyway, I grabbed the broom and dust pan too, and swept him all the way to the kitchen door.....screaming the entire time....Shudder!;)
I still don't think that I'm completely over it.;)
Thanks for sharing this post today. I loved it!
God Bless,
Amy:)
thanks for coming by...
i love your blog colors...this is my favorite shade of blue...
have a gr8 weekend!!
Wow, that was a good post. I do not want to take Him my stinky rags either. If there is anything good in me at all it is Him!
I'll miss you tomorrow in church, but I'm looking forward to seeing you in the Counselors Class.
I have missed you! My summer was so out of touch with my blog and those I met through it!
I'm glad I'm doing the study with Lelia's group.
Thank you for your sweet comments on my blog. I just sort of have a brain melt down and then I have to spend alot of time correcting huge mistakes of grammar.
I just want to glorify GOD and be transparent, Lynn.
You are precious!
Praying for you, Girl!
Teri
Hi Lynn, this is a funny story but what a great way you turned it a biblical application.
I soooo want to be a sweet sweet sound in His ear and a pleasant smell up to His nostrils. Thanks for the reminder to stay on my face before Him lest I get too 'puffed' up with what I think I can do for Him or bring to Him.
Btw. thank you for visiting my blog. It's great getting to know all you ladies. I am really looking forward to the bible study and developing more Godly friendships. It's a longing of my heart.
Blessings,
Vickie
My sweet Max, who has been in kitty heaven for many years now, used to regularly bring his offerings to my doorstep. It really is a sign of affection and love. They want to bring their best before the one they love. I had never considered this in light of our offerings that we bring before our Heavenly Father. What wonderful insight! I am friends with “My Hands His Glory” and I came for a visit. I miss my sweet Max and the offering he used to bring to me, thanks for bringing him to my mind with your post as well as the insights.
In His Name
Robin
Love this post!!! I learn stuff from my cat all the time too!!! In my post last Friday I used the verse you just did...to act justly, love mercy and to walk humbly with my God. Pretty cool verse!
Nicole
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