Cali Leaving for California Part 10

Folks, I know you have been wondering when Cali would get to go to California, well after 4 months Cali is now going to California. Her mom, Anna Aman, DVM,DACVS flew to North Carolina and they met for the first time and fell in love with each other.  It took Cali no time at all to realize that Anna was going to be the best mom in the world.

Yes, after Cali spent the first few months of her life with Joe and myself, she finally made it to California.  She and Anna bonded from the time Anna got off the airplane. But Cali began to wonder what was going on around the house. Yes, this new person had shown up and started taking the place of her human grandma. But, Cali thought, well this person seem to be alright so I will listen to her and be very nice.

But then one morning things started to change for Cali. This new person was packing her suitcase, and also putting Cali’s doggie toys in that suitcase.  Cali began to wonder what was happening here. She started thinking, I do not see my grandma Pat packing, but she is helping this new person that says she is my human mom pack food, clothes and all of my toys.  I must be going somewhere! They have even put a pretty red vest on me, but I think I will go to my kennel and think about this situation.

Has God ever told you to do something, and you knew it was exactly the right thing to do, but you thought you needed to pray and think about it a little more?  I think sometimes we use prayer to prolong the event.

We need to be more like Abraham and Moses. When God tells us to go, just pack our bags and go. Stop using the excuse, I need to pray a little more, to put off the evident.

We at times cause ourselves pain and hardship because we want to do it our way and not God’s way. When if we had just listened to God the first time, we would have already received the blessings that God had for us.

Exodus 33:1

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’

Genesis 12: 1- 3

¹ The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.

 ² “I will make you into a great nation        and I will bless you;        I will make your name great,        and you will be a blessing.

 ³ I will bless those who bless you,        and whoever curses you I will curse;        and all peoples on earth        will be blessed through you.”

As Cali wondered what was happening, she soon realized that she was in fact going somewhere today. So she decided, you know I better get ready. I better make sure that my new mom Anna packed all my things, including my food and treats.

After they packed, we loaded the car to go to the airport. We prayed for Anna and Cali’s safe trip and that Cali would be a good puppy on the plane and remember all of her commands as a service dog. 

See, Cali was going to get to ride on the inside of the plane with Anna. She would sit at Anna’s feet, or in the seat next to Anna, if a seat was available.  Folks, this doggie was not going cargo, but as a service dog, she would be right beside her mom.

We arrived at the airport and Joe decided to go in and help Anna with her bag and Cali.  Because this was Cali’s first flight, we did not know how she would react.  We soon found out that Cali was a pro at this, or at less she was putting on a good show, making us believe she was.

Well, Cali did well, and even walked through security passing all the tests. So far, so good. Because she had her service vest on, people knew not to go up to her, but first ask Anna if they could pet her. Everyone did want to pet her, because she is such a sweet puppy.

Now they made it on the plane.  At this point Cali is beginning to wonder again, what is this, and am I in the right place?  Are you sure I am supposed to get on this thing?  Where is my grandma. Help me!

Yes, there are times in all of our lives that we wonder, God, are you sure I was supposed to do this thing? Did I listen and go in the right direction? See, satan will continue to work to try to stop us from doing what God wants us to do. Even when we are in the right place, he will try to put confusion or questions in our mind.  This is when we need to sit at the feet of God, and know that we are right where we need to be. Satan only tells lies.  So if he is telling us that we are not doing right, that is the first sign that we should know, without a doubt, that we are right where we belong. If not, satan would not continue to put doubt and confusion in our minds.

We should have the faith to know that we are right where we belong, and settle down and do the work God has for us to do.

Cali finally settled down after Anna talked to her. Anna let her know that they were alright, and she was safe and secure.

Cali and Anna changed planes in Dallas. Cali thought they were in California, but Anna explained they had to change planes.  By now Cali had settled in and really become a pro at this flying thing.

Anyway, Cali and Anna arrived in California, and they are settling in as a family. Oh, Cali made sure she got her bag back. She was not going to lose her toys.

See, when we listen to God, as Cali listened to Anna, we soon find out that everything will be okay. If we put our lives in God’s hands, as Cali put her life in Anna’s hands, we will soon find out that we can rest in the peace of knowing that everything will always work out as God has planned for us. We will rest in the comfort of God’s love and peace.

Joyfully, In The Master’s Service
Blessings, Prayers and Love,
Pastor Pat

Pastor Pat Aman/©1996/2015
CWPM1996/2015

The Adventures of Cali is written by: Pastor Pat Aman

All rights belong to Pastor Pat Aman

First Rights

Home, Doctor and Tick Part 9

Tonight’s story is a little long, but please read every word. You will see that God is still in the miracle working business. But, Cali, is worn out. The 3000 mile trip took a told on all of us. Cali had be best Idea, take a long nap.

Cali also reminded me that I should of used a tube of her Frontline Plus…

Thank goodness we are home for a while, but I am still hurting at the back of my neck, just under the edge of my hair, and now a sore has come up where the tick was on my neck. You know, I think I better go to the doctor, because the head of the tick may still be in the place on my neck.

Bright and early on Wednesday I called and made an appointment to go to see my regular Family Physician, and of course they said come right on in, because you do not play with tick bites. So when I went in, the doctor looked at the place on my neck, and told me there was nothing in the sore, but he wanted to put me on an antibiotic anyway for precaution. He also did a complete blood workup on me to check for Lyme disease, and other infections that can be caused by a tick bite. They told me that they would call when the blood work was back, so I left the doctor’s office and went to the drug store, and got my prescription filled, and started taking it immediately. The next day, when I got up, I had two huge nodules that had appeared about an inch away from the bite, and they were really painful. So I decided to call my Surgeon, and let him look at the places, because if there was something still in the bite he would be the one to remove it. I went to my iPhone where my contacts are stored, and called the number for my surgeon. Boy, was I surprised when he answered the phone. I said, “you have surprised me because I did not expect you to answer your phone.” He replied, “this is my cell phone number.” I apologized, and then remembered when I was sick a few years ago, he gave me his number to call him at home, if I had to go to the emergency room. He was the one who wanted to see me, because he knew about all of my surgeries, since he performed all but two of them that I had experienced in the 4 year span, and he did not want me to deal with just anyone. I went ahead and explained why I was calling, and he told me to call his office and tell them he wanted to see me today. So I did, and they gave me an appointment for 2:00 pm. When I arrived, he looked at the place, and said it did not look like anything was still there, but it looked like I may have a bad infection, mostly because of the nodules that were swollen in the back of my neck. He agreed I needed to be put on an antibiotic, and I told him that my Family Physician from yesterday and already put me on one. He told me to continue to take it, and come back in a week for a recheck. He wanted to keep a close eye on it. He also told me that I had probably had the bite for about two weeks.

Why I did not find the tick before then beats me. See, I wash my hair everyday. Anyway, everything is in God’s timing.

Now remember, I just got home from a long trip, and now I have been to see two doctors in two days. I was so tired that when I left the surgeon’s office I went straight home, instead of going by the grocery store, which I had planned to do. Around 3:10 my phone rang, and it was my Family Physician’s office, calling me to tell me that my doctor wanted me to come back in the next day. I said, “okay, has my blood work come back?” She said, “he wants to recheck your tick bite, so can you come in at 10:20 am or 2:30 pm?” I told her I would be there for the 10:20 appointment. So again, I get up the third day in a row to go to the doctor’s office. When I arrived, I signed in, and the receptionist asked me what I was doing there. I told her it beats me, that they had called me to come back in to have my tick bite rechecked is all I know. Anyway, she checks me in, and then they call me back for the doctor to see me. When I got back, I had to sit in the hall, because all the rooms were full. Everyone around me was coughing, so I got up and walked away from them to the end of the row of chairs.

I noticed that a lady kept staring at me, so to be polite, I said, “it is a beautiful day today.” Bless her heart, she did not feel that way. She answered that she was tired of being sick. I told her that I had experienced a lot of surgeries in the last few years, and was bedridden for almost two years, but God touched and healed my body. Then I asked her if I could pray for her. She said, “oh yes,” so I went over, laid my hand on her shoulder, and said a simple, short prayer, asking God to touch her and heal her body. The second I said amen, the nurse called me into a room. When the doctor came in, he said, “why are you here?” I told him, “your office called me yesterday afternoon and told me you wanted to recheck my tick bite.” His answer was, ” I did not work yesterday afternoon.” By then I am wondering what is going on. I said, “maybe my blood work is in and the lab saw something.” He looked in my chart and informed me that the blood work was not back yet. Then he asked me to follow him to the lab, where he asked the lab technician if my blood work was back yet. They said they would look, so he told me to go wait in the lab waiting room, and he would come get me when they gave him the results.

I choose not to sit in that waiting room where everyone was coughing, but to sit around the corner on a bench. I picked up the book that I was reading, and all of a sudden I heard a voice say, “do you not know why you are here?” Oh my gracious! It was God talking to me! He told me to take my book mark, which had Women of God written on it, and to write my phone number and name on it, and give it to the lady I had prayed for earlier. So I asked the receptionist for a permanent marker, and did exactly what God was telling me to do. Then I walked around the corner, but did not see the lady, so I asked the nurse if the lady I prayed for was still in the building, and she said yes, so I asked her to give the lady the book mark as a prayer cloth. Then I went and sat back down and started reading my book again. I heard God say, “your time here today was appointed by me.” I thought, “oh my gracious!” Then I looked up, and the lady I prayed for and her daughter-in-law were walking to where I was sitting. I looked at her and said, “God told me to tell you that today was appointed by Him just for you. I told her everything about being called to come back to the doctor, then getting here and no one knows why I am here, including the doctor. I laughed and said, “They offered a morning appointment at 10:20 am, or an afternoon appointment at 2:30 pm, but I chose the morning appointment, which was odd, because I usually always make appointments for the afternoon.” Her daughter-in-law looked at me and said, “her appointment was for 2:30 this afternoon, but we called and changed it to 10:30 this morning. I just sat there. God never ceases to amaze me. Again, God said, “tell her this time was appointed by Him.” I said sweetie, I do not know why I am here. The doctor does not know why I am here. I choose an early appointment over an afternoon appointment. You called and changed your appointment from the afternoon to morning, so all I can tell you is God said to tell you this time was appointed by Him, for you. So, I want you to accept your healing from God now, In Jesus Name. She cried, her daughter-in-law cried, I cried, and we all were amazed at how God had used a tick bite to get me to the doctor to pray for her. I stressed to her over again how God had worked to get me back in the office to just pray for her. My doctor came around the corner and told me my blood work was fine. No problems. I said well, all I know is your office called me to come back in for you to check my tick bite again, and here I am. He just shook his head, and said make an appointment for a recheck in two weeks, and walked away. Now you ask, “how could all of this take place?” Only God knows. But for some reason, my chart got put in with the charts to call people back into the office. And when she called, I asked if my blood work back in, and all she could say is what she read on my chart that I had a tick bite. So I guess she figured that the doctor wanted to recheck the bite.

Yes, the doctor who did not even work the afternoon before. Another note; I probably got the tick while in Georgia. And the friends that I stayed over night with in Georgia, his wife has been sick for some time now, and she has been to several doctors, and they cannot find out what is wrong with her. When the doctor told me symptoms of tick bites, it was the exact symptoms she is having. I called her and asked her if she had been bitten by a tick recently, she informed me that she had had several tick bites. So now she is hopefully seeing a doctor who can help her now, and see if it is a tick bite that is causing her problems. So this tick bite story is two-fold.

Now folks, tell me that God is not still in the miracle working business. God still speaks to us, and all He wants is for us to be a willing vessel to do His work. So, I ask you today, “are you that vessel?” Important information: If you are bitten by a tick, please see your doctor. I also would like to let you know that the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine is now doing research on tick bites and humans. So, if your doctor needs any new information about the research they may call the College of Veterinary Medicine, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Their web site is: www.cvm.ncsu.edu My local Veterinarian has informed me that that are more diseases from tick bites than just Lyme disease, and a lot of Physicians do not know this information.

“Heading Home” Part 8

Well, I really do not want to tell Cali that her trip to California has been delayed.  But, from her looks, I am afraid she knows sometime is not right. But, she had decided that if Grandma is packing, well, I better pack also.

Well, it is time to head back to North Carolina after over so far 2,200 miles. And I am afraid that Cali is going back with me.  Yes, it seems, Pet Airways has been bought out. So, anyway, back to North Carolina we go, Pat, Cali and Iris. The three Amigo’s.

We left North Carolina now going on four weeks ago, making stops in Florida,  Georgia, and Louisiana. When we arrive home we will have traveled over 3000 miles. And yes, I, Pastor Pat will have driven the entire time.  I do not mind driving, but whoever is traveling with me probably gets bored. Why? Because I do not talk much when I am driving. I listen to Scripture, Music, pray, and of course keep my eyes on the road. There are so many crazy drivers out there on the roads these days. If someone is traveling with me, about the only voice they hear is Samantha, the women on my GPS.  Now when the person traveling with me, does talk to me I listen, but respond only when deemed necessary.

Now, Iris did read  a lot, or work puzzles in a puzzle book, and sometimes she read some interesting and funny stories from a devotional book out loud to me, but other times we just headed on down the road. As my husband Joe says, when the company calls him and tells him he is going out of town to work, he will call me and say, “Guess what? As Willie Nelson sings, “I’m on the road again.”

We had a good time visiting with Friends and Family, and of course being honored to preach God’s Word through Sunday Services and Revivals. What a blessing to be able to share God’s Word.

I had decided to pack the car the night before we left, but again, the back of my neck and head hurt, so I took some ibuprofen and went to bed.  The next morning I told Iris to just put her bags at the front door and I would load the car.  Of course loading Cali’s portable kennel in the back seat was all the sign that Cali needed to realize that we were going somewhere, and yes, she was going along for the ride this time. 

It was so funny, when my sister Ruby called me into the living room to see what Cali was doing, and to my amazement, she was getting all her toys in a pile, and when she saw me she bought me her water bowl. Hey, I am not joking.  Call my sister Ruby and ask her, she will tell you exactly what happened. Yes, I promise it is the whole truth, with my hand in the air.

Anyway, we got the car loaded, said our goodbyes, and headed toward North Carolina. I figured that we would get in about 12:30 am if we only stopped to get gas, grab a bite to eat, potty, and stretch our legs a bit.

Wrong, Cali seemed to want to potty more this day, so I had to stop along the side of the road a couple of times. As a matter of fact, after one of the times in Alabama the only place I could stop was in the median where the Highway Patrol sits and emergency vehicles turn around. After I got back into the car and was headed back down the road, I reached up and was rubbing my neck. I felt a bump. I thought is was a sore and I scratched at it, and then pulled at what I thought was a scab, and I soon found out it was a tick. I put it in a piece of paper and handed it to Iris, and she also agreed, yes it was a tick. Well, it did not take me long to find a place to stop and go in the bathroom and check myself good all over. Then I came back out to the car, took Cali, her bed and bedding out, and checked everything twice. There were no ticks on Cali, nor in her bed, just the one I found on me.  I should have known Cali would not have a tick, because she had been treated with Frontline three times.  Maybe I should have been treated with Frontline also.

Now, back in the car we get again, and we were not even halfway home yet, but still determined to not stop and spend the night anywhere. I had my eyes on North Carolina, and I was ready to sleep in my own bed.  I was very tired. I will tell you that taking care of a puppy while trying to study, and preach is a full time job. But again, I figured God was just showing me He has a sense of humor, even though my sense of humor was kinda running short by now.

We arrived in Dunn, North Carolina, around 1:30 am, where Iris’s daughter met me to pick Iris up to keep me from having to drive all the way to Faison, North Carolina, then back to Raleigh, North Carolina. This would have added an extra 125 miles to my trip, so this was so sweet of them to help me out, and of course Janice was ready to see her mama.

When Cali and I left Dunn, I told Cali, “girl it won’t be too long now, we are almost home.” When I arrived home, I decided to put Cali in the guest bathroom with her travel kennel, yes, the one she had happily used over the pasted four weeks, and this  was not a good idea. 

Hey, I was so worn out by the time we out home, I did not take the time to put her old kennel back up. I thought, I will get Joe to get it down and put it together tomorrow.

Remember, I did not think I would be using it anymore. Cali was supposed to be in California by now.

So she thought, hummmm, I will show her, and she did.

Yes, Joe did put her original kennel back up. She was now a happy camper.

When we first got her and I put her in the bathroom she chewed a place in the dry wall. Well, I now we will have to fix the  dry wall again. Plus buy toilet paper and just throw the travel kennel away.

Now you may say, “did that upset you?” Hey, listen, after you have had to wear a colostomy bag because you let stress mess your colon up, you start to see things in a different perspective. After I had the reversal and now I do not have a colostomy bag, I never want one again. I now just take things in stride and know it either can be fixed or it will work out, if you leave it in God’s hands.

I just remember the two Bible verses below, and “keep my eyes on the goal that is set before me” as Paul said, and everything works out, even tick bites.

Yes, God can even use tick bites to get you to do His work. Just wait until tomorrow’s devotion and you will see exactly what I mean.  God never stops amazing me. Oh, and the question pending. Does Cali every make it to California?

Philippians 4: 13 and 19

¹³ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

¹⁹ And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Below  are some pictures for you to enjoy.

We did take Iris to Poverty Point. It was actually old stomping grounds for my sister Ruby. Daddy, Mama and the gang lived there at one time.

Poverty Point A man made lake

Why Can’t I Go To Church?

Part 7

Well, Cali is not happy today. She cannot understand why she cannot go to church with us today. I tried to explain that I am preaching today at Antioch Baptist Church, and I will not be able to keep an eye on her. She tries to tell me that she will help me get the people’s attention, and I am sure she could bring a lot of excitement to the church service.  Kind of like the song about the squirrel in the church, sung Ray Stevens. Hey, maybe I should have let her go.

Anyway, as I blow dry my hair, she comes over to get her hair blow dried also.  She just loves the blow dryer. She jumps up and down and has the best time.  This is a good thing, because after I bathe her she does not fuss when I blow dry her to get her all dry and shiny.

After much talking and trying to convince her that she just cannot go this time, she decides well, “I guess I will go back to bed then.”

I  told her I do not think so, because Aunt Ruby will get us both. I reminded her that she was blessed just by her Aunt Ruby letting me bring her and letting her stay in the house. But, Aunt Ruby does not allow animals of any kind in her beds.  And also, I needed to make the bed after I got dressed.  One thing that Aunt Ruby likes is for everyone to make their beds daily, in case company would happen to come by to visit. She wants the house to look nice.

Cali still was not agreeing with me.  She did not want to move. I told her that she better get down or we both would be in trouble, mostly if she had an accident on Aunt Ruby’s guest bed. Also, Aunt Ruby did not want her beds smelling like little puppies.

I finished dressing and decided we need to take a walk before I put Cali in her kennel. Bad idea. All I can say is I am glad the package came with two pair of hosiery in it.

Oh, I also found out that Cali did not need to go out, when  I stepped in my stocking feet to check my hair for one last time.   I told you she was mad.

Time now running short, I promised Cali as I put her in her kennel that when I got back from church that we would watch the Dog Whisperer on TV. That seemed to satisfy her, and she relaxed, and off to church Ruby, Iris and myself went, knowing that it would be a long day, and I continued praying that Cali would understand.

We arrived at church for Sunday School, and I usually am never nervous, but I guess preaching in my home church some 33 years after I left, I did feel a little anxious, because I cannot even remember what the Sunday School lesson was about.

Good Friends of ours, Cleo and Sam Yeates, came to bring the special music. What a blessing they are, and so precious. They are such anointed singers. Their Ministry is called, “Still Amazed.”  They traveled all over the United States, so where you may live is not too far.  Give them a call, you will be blessed and the Lord will be glorified.

Praise God, when they started singing, I saw the preacher raise his hands. Whew, I thought, now I am a little more relaxed. Remember, I am an Ordained Pentecostal Holiness Minister, preaching in a Baptist Church today.  Well, that does not matter, because I preach in all denominations. I guess I was a little uneasy at first, because it was my home church.

I preached on Faith. I explained that we need to stand strong no matter what situation we may be in, because Jesus already knows the outcome when we put it in His hands.  I used Rizpah, from the Old Testament, and Peter casting his nets, from the New Testament. We had a good service, and God was glorified. Afterwards, we went out to Big John’s to eat, then back home to rest, and to keep my promise to Cali.

On Monday, Pastor Keith Evans called me and told me that the message touched many lives, including his, and that he had needed to hear a word of hope.  All I can say is, “To God Be The Glory.”

Again, we had a good day, even though I did seem to have a little headache that morning. I had even told Ruby that I must have slept wrong on my neck because my neck and head really hurt. But I just ignored it, and I went on about God’s business for the day.

When we returned home, I put my jeans on, took something for my headache, and put Cali in my lap, and we both rested. Well, I rested, and she watched the Dog Whisperer. When the Dog Whisperer is on TV is the only time I ever see Cali being still, unless she is asleep.  I have decided just today that we should have named her Tigger, instead of Cali, because she is constantly on the move, bouncing off the walls.

Maybe we need to be more like Cali, and stop and take the time to listen to God. Sometimes we get so busy that we let things distract us from hearing God’s voice and we get ourselves into a big mess.  Just as Cali is learning from the Dog Whisperer by being still, maybe it is time we got still at the altar or maybe beside our bed and asked God what He wants for us, and not what we want for ourselves. For God wants the best for His children and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

^{III John 2 – 4}  

²Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

 ³For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

 ⁴I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Tomorrow devotion I am sure will be about eating more catfish, and yes, just hold on, for the tick will soon show himself.

Part 6

No Way, Get That Thing Away From Me

I am out of here… That thing is worst than those big things they called cows and donkeys….. Well, Cali was not impressed by the crawfish. As a matter of fact, Iris was not too impressed herself, because this is as close as I could get her to one. As a matter of fact, she only held a crawfish just long enough for me to take her picture.

Now friends, until about 4 years ago I would have agreed with them. But Joe and I decided that we would try them out. We loved them. Now some people eat the tails and the yucky black stuff inside of the heads. Not us. We learned that you just peel the shell off, like a shrimp then eat the meat in the tail which is delicious. Here are a few extra pictures of the place we went to eat Crawfish. Enjoy!

First rule to eating crawfish is to prepare your stomach. Eat a Rolaid or two before, during and after.

In Louisiana, when they cook crawfish, they WILL BE HOT and SPICY. Have plenty to drink.  Also, do not think ordering the corn on the cob and boiled potatoes will cool the crawfish down. They are as hot and spicy as the crawfish.  The crawfish are like little lobsters, they are alive when they put them into the boiling water.  And then when you eat them, it takes a little lesson on peeling them. They are not like boiled shrimp. You have to grab them where the head joins the tail, squeeze, twist and then pull the tail away from the head, making sure all the yucky stuff goes with the head part. A lot of people suck the stuff out of the head and eat it.  NOT ME!!!  In other words, to get to the delicious part of the meat to eat, you must work hard to learn the correct way to eat them, or you will get a bunch of ugly black stuff along with the good, tender meat.

I have also learned since my first crawfish, if you take the head off, peeled the first part of the shell off and then put the meat between your teeth and squeeze the tail, they are not as hot. Why? A lot of the hot sauce is on the outside of the shell, and that get on your fingers and you get more hot sauce that way. But, yes again, remember the corn on the cob and potatoes will always be hot. The juices cook all the way through them.

Yes, I do have a message out of this story, or maybe a lesson. 2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

When God has something for you to do for Him, He not only prepares you for the task, but He expects you to prepare as well. You must study to show yourself approved, to be able to handle the job. I can tell you that not everyone who thinks they are called are ready for the responsibility. Doing Ministry for the Lord is a 24/7 job. Not just for Pastors and Evangelists, but also for the everyday Disciple.

You must pray, read your Bible, and spend alone time, just listening to the voice of God. Yes, He speaks, but we do not always listen. And when we do not prepare ourselves, that is when we so find out that we are getting head over heals into the yucky stuff.  A lot of people want the delicious tender meat, but do not want to work for it.  (They want the big churches with a lot of people following and working for them, and letting them get the praise, instead of God.) That is not how it goes.

In Ministry work, you must start at the bottom, and work up through the good, the bad, and the ugly.  You must be able to minister to someone not only by word of mouth, but by being able to say, “Friend, I know just what you are going through. But if you will hold on to God, He will pull you through this mess you are in. I promise you that there is nothing in your life that God cannot handle. See, he is the handler of the messy stuff.  The messier the mess, the more God likes it, because He knows when He brings you through it, you will be a better person. Then when you finally see daylight, oh how sweet and wonderfully delicious it will be!”

And friends, you do not experience this by sitting behind your desk everyday at the church. You have to get out in the streets, and meet the hurting, lost, and sick. I have been through the good, the bad, and the ugly myself. I know what it is like to be sick for years. I know what it is like to be lied to and talked about.  I know what it is like to think you have a good friend, but they stab you in the back.  Hey I have a T-Shirt to show for it. Several, as a matter of fact.

I have some good friends in New York. When I go to Minister for them, the one thing they say is, “Pastor Pat, you are honest and true. You tell it like it is. You do not put on a show.” I just say, give God the glory, for I have been there, done that, and again, have a T-Shirt to show for it. Friends, I have been where you maybe are today. I know how you feel. In other words, you, like Cali and Iris may think, no way. I do not want anything to do with those crawfish (this mess I am in).  Just get me out of this right now. I cannot handle it  anymore. I promise you that you can handle it. For God will never let you go through anything that He and you cannot handle together.  And when you feel you cannot walk anymore, He will pick you up and carry you for a while. Please just remember what Jesus did for you on the cross. He did not have to go through it. He could have called Heaven’s Angels down, and they would have rescued Him. But He chose to go through it, so He would be able to help you make it through your mess.

1 Corinthians 10:13

¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Friends, God loves you. He wants the best for you. But yes, sometimes mess happens. But just turn to God, and I promise you He will bring you through. There is nothing, no nothing so bad, that God cannot handle. So today, let God take you in His arms, and love you. Give Him your problems. Put them in God’s ‘to do’ box. Leave them there, and I promise you that you will come out on top. You will be able to sit down at God’s table and enjoy the delicious blessings of His mercy, grace and love.

Tomorrow devotion preaching in Louisiana and getting ready to come back to North Carolina. Hey, you will soon find out about the tick and how it lead me to be able to minister to several people. Yes, a tick.  Hey, God has just out done Himself lately.

                 Hey, What About Me?

Well, we have settled in for before the next Revival begins. I would be preaching at Antioch Baptist Church on Sunday. Pastor Keith Evans is the Pastor at Antioch. We have known each other for a long time. Pastor Keith became a Evangelist as a teenager, and I was doing lay missions meetings at the same time. I will enjoy preaching on Sunday, because Antioch is my home church. I went to Antioch from 1969 to 1977, when I moved to North Carolina and married my husband, Joe.

When I was getting ready to marry Joe and move to North Carolina, one of my jobs at Antioch was G.A. Director. Every Wednesday night, I would go around the community and pick up all the young girls who were in the G.A. Program. That is, before you were made to wear seat belts. We would have class three Wednesday nights a month, and then on the fourth Wednesday night we would go to Colonial Manner Nursing Home, where the girls adopted a lady to minister to that did not have a family.
When Joe went to move me to North Carolina, we had a special ceremony where the girls would present a program to the church, showing what they had done during the year. They would receive their crowns and certificates. I was so proud of them. I remember we all wore white long dresses, and they gave me a special bracelet and a award to remember them.

Now, the girls have grown up, and have children, and some grandchildren, of their own. Hey, I do not have any grandchildren myself, so why are they ahead of me?

Anyway, on with the story. I have already eaten catfish filets about three times since I have been here.

Louisiana catfish does not taste like North Carolina catfish. They are wonderful. There is a place in Rayville called the Feed Lot. It is open every day for lunch, and on Friday they have catfish filets and whole catfish on their buffet. They just laugh at me, because every time I go, I just get about fifteen pieces of fileted catfish on my plate, nothing else, no sides or anything, just the filets. Now the filets are only about an inch wide and about three to four inches long, fried in corn meal, salt, pepper, and special spices. Boy, they are good and they do not taste fishy.

Well, today, Cali was upset because she could not go to lunch with us. I think it was because she thought we just might go get that ice cream I promised her. She decided to get under the night stand in the bedroom and pout. As I was getting dress she just looked at me and tried her best to make me feel bad. She was succeeding. It was as she was saying, “but, look at me, I need to go eat fish, and get some ice cream now. I really need it NOW!”

Please let me go…. I promise I will be good…..
I tried my best to explain to her that they did not allow puppy doggies in the restaurant or the ice cream place. But, I promised her that I would bring her a treat back from the store. That did seem to satisfy her for a while.

You know, we sometimes complain to God just the same way. Thank God, He knows and still loves us when we are pouting. Now, I do not want you to tell me that I am the only one who pouts at God at times. But again, He knows what is best for us. If we will not try to always get our way and wait the blessing (treat) is always better. God knows all of our needs and our desires. He knows when we are hurting, and need His HELP, NOW!
In Psalm 70:5, David felt the same way. He wanted God to help him, NOW! He told God do not delay!

Psalm 70:5
5 But I am poor and needy;
Make haste to me, O God!
You are my help and my deliverer;
O LORD, do not delay.

Anyway, we did go eat fish, and afterwards decided to take Iris around and show her some of the sights.
We went first to a building that looks like it was nothing, but at one time, back in the early 1900’s, it was a Chapel. It was called Hunter’s Chapel. Now, my maiden name is Hunter. This Chapel was built by my great uncle, Pastor Ed Hunter.

John 15: 1 – 8
The True Vine
1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

As I got out and looked at the old building it made me think. I wondered what kind of services they had here? Did they feel the touch of God? How early did they have to get up to get to church and how many miles did they come either by walking or horse and buggy? But, then I got to thinking about some of our churches now. They may have nice building and they come by cars, but how many of our churches are as dead as this old building is now. Sitting idle not doing what God wants and needs for them to do. People attending services, but God no where to be found. You know maybe some preachers and members need to do what my great uncle did as he lay in bed taking his last breathe. He called for my daddy to come to see him. When daddy arrived, he told daddy that he needed to make it right with the Lord. That he had failed the Lord in his later years. So right there on his death bed, my daddy prayed for his uncle. Uncle Ed said, “Raleigh, I know I preached many years, but did I really bear fruit for my Lord?”

So, I asked you today, are you bearing fruit for the Lord? My daddy’s uncle got things straight between him the Lord. Maybe today, you need to get down on your knees and make things straight with the Lord. Maybe you need to call for Daddy God to come and talk to you and get your life straighten out.

Before I left the old broken down building, I went over and got a piece of wood from around the window. A piece of wood to remind me to stay on track with the Lord. A piece of wood that would remind me often of the words my daddy’s uncle said, “Did I really bear fruit for my Lord?”

After, we left Hunter’s Chapel, we went on down the road to a little county store. I remember when my mama took Joe, my husband, there to get ice cream, his first words were, “is this a working facility?” Then Mama told him not to pull the car up to close because the porch could fall down on the car. Joe was more worried about the store falling down on us when we went inside. But anyway, I stopped, and Iris grabbed her camera, took some pictures, then we went in to share the fellowship and friendship over a cone of Blue Bonnet Ice Cream. Oh, I had chocolate, two scoops. Here are a couple pictures of the inside and out side of the store.

Mama Hunter eating ice cream…
This was my mama’s favorite place to go get ice cream, as you can see….

Now, we just go to remember the good times we had watching mama talking and not letting one drop of her ice cream go to waste. She loved strawberry, but, butter pecan came in a close second… I know she was looking down from Heaven the day we were there, smiling at us.
Friends, God wants us to have good times. He wants us to enjoy life. We all need to take the time to share our time with family and friends. Take a ride down a old county road. Stop and say hello to someone along the way. Do not let your life get so busy with the non-essential things, that you do not have the time to enjoy the important things. Simple things, like sharing a double scoop of chocolate ice cream with someone, while you are also sharing a double scoop of memories.

Oh, and for you that are Cali supporters, I did not forget to stop and get her a treat. I did not break my promise to her.

How sweet it is…. Counting and enjoying my treat just like grandma promised me….

Oh, sorry about the crawfish, you will have to read about them in tomorrows devotion. I will give you a little taste in the picture below, but tell you about the restaurant tomorrow.

Psalm 91

 ¹ He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

 ² I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

 ³ Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.

 ⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,  and under his wings you will find refuge;  his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

 ⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,  nor the arrow that flies by day,

 ⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,  nor the plague that destroys at midday.

 ⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,  ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

 ⁸ You will only observe with your eyes  and see the punishment of the wicked.

 ⁹ If you make the Most High your dwelling— even the LORD, who is my refuge-

 ¹⁰ then no harm will befall you,  no disaster will come near your tent.

 ¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you  to guard you in all your ways;

 ¹² they will lift you up in their hands,   so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

 ¹³ You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;  you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

 ¹⁴ “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;  I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

 ¹⁵ He will call upon me, and I will answer him;  I will be with him in trouble,  I will deliver him and honor him.

 ¹⁶ With long life will I satisfy him  and show him my salvation.”

Part 4

“What Was That?

What was that thing that just walked passed me? Four legs, but big… It doesn’t sound like I do….

Here we are the first morning in Louisiana and it is again time for Cali and me to go for our morning walk. Cali says, “no problem, I am use to these nice walks, and everyone that sees me just loves me.” When we got outside I will tell you she was not as secure about this walk as she thought she was.

Even though my sister Ruby lives on a big farm, I knew not to let Cali outside without her leash. I needed to walk her. Why? Well, about 100 feet in back of the house is the Beouf River, in which Cali would have taken a swim, or gone fishing. Then on one side of the house, pastures, and the other fields that go on forever.

JB and Ruby Ratcliff’s farm goes on from all directions. From pastures, to the Break or Bayou to the River.

Mama Hunter loved her petunia’s… I bet she has them all over and around her mansion in Heaven…

This picture of mama sitting outside… See, Cali could have run forever, and forever, and forever……

I remember the last time we took Sara and Katie to Louisiana, and Joe was packing the car for us to come home.  Sara and Katie decided they wanted to go cow pie stomping in the pasture. (more like rolling in the cow pies.)  Oh, my did they smell bad after they rolled around in a few cow pies before Anna and Joe got them out of the pasture. So they had to give both them a bath with the water hose. They did not like it because they are use to a warm shower in the house, not a cold water outdoor hose bath.

Boy, did we smell bad after going cow pie stomping…

Do you know what Cali would have done if I had just let her out to walk herself? I probably would still be looking for her. She runs fast, and explores everything. Hummmmm… Maybe not?

We walk out into the beautiful sunshine and the first thing Cali does is see the cows all coming towards her. Of course they are in a fenced pasture, but she does not realize that there is a fence between her and them. She sees the cows and hears the donkeys and that is all it took. She did a fast u turn right between my legs almost pulling me to the ground, trying to get back in the house. It did not take her long to decide whatever those things are, I do not want anything to do with them. Ruby, Iris and I were laughing so hard they we almost had to go inside and change clothes and take a bath ourselves.

Run Grandma Run

Look at those Monsters

Anyway, I will let you know I can move faster than I thought I could, because Cali pull me into the house. That day she walked me, I was not walking her. Forget the Dog Whisperer, and who is suppose to be the leader of the pack. Cali decided fast she was the leader of the pack and we were getting the heck out of Dodge and fast.

Cali ran right through Ruby’s open front door and right to our bedroom.  She was not going to get involved with anything that was bigger then she was at the time, and she did not care what I said it was.

Aunt Ruby, Aunt Iris and Grandma, Hide. Aliens have landed.

I got her settle down and explained Cali, those are just cows and donkeys, they will not hurt you if you stay beside me. I will protect you. She seemed to be listening to me, taking in every word, not sure if I knew what I was talking about.

Are you sure you know what you are talking about grandma????

Ok, if you say so, I will try it one more time this outside thing, but no promises. Just hang on Granny, because if one of those things come towards me, we are out of here…….

Well, I got her back out side, this time her letting me be the leader of the pack staying close behind. She watched the cows and donkeys closely, and soon figured that maybe I knew what I was talking about.

 Here are my new friends…

Okay, maybe they are okay. I will stay on this side of the yard under the protecting of grandma Pat. She will protect me….

Anyway, the morning excitement gave us a good laugh, but also taught us all a lesson that we discussed as we ate a hearty breakfast.

You know, that is how it is with God and us. Sometimes we step out of His will thinking that we can take care of ourselves, then all of a sudden, a cow (satan) comes along and tries to scare the mess out of us. He tries to stomp us in the ground. And sometimes he does succeed to the point that we are afraid to step out again and try once more something that God wants us to do, but maybe the first time we were out of God’s timing. We were on our time, and we fell.  But God’s forgives our shortcomings. He picks us up an sets us back on the right path. He shows us that if we will stay close to Him that He will protect and watch over us. For He will give His Angels guard over us, and we will be sheltered under His almighty wings.

See, this is what Cali realized. Stay close to Grandma and everything will be okay…

You should have been there. Homemade biscuits, homemade jelly, molasses, sorghum syrup, honey, whatever you have a taste for,  along with bacon, sausage, eggs, and milk gravy.  Yes, diet, out the window you go today.

And yes, I helped cook. Ruby made the gravy and I did the rest, except for the jelly and jams, in which my brother Bill and Ruby have fun putting up every year during jelly season. Bill will come over from Florida, and they get in the kitchen, talk, and they use everything in the icebox, garden, and grocery store to make jelly. I tried some of there cactus jelly, but I like the watermelon rind preserves best of all.

Oh, be praying for my brother Bill. He has been preaching God’s word and sharing the gospel for over 40 years. He is a preacher in DeFuniack Springs, Florida. He has been preaching at a once small church for less than a year. They are growing in leaps and bounds. They have already started getting ready to build a new church building. They are not wasting any time. They hope to have the building completed within a year. They need the place. And of course, Bill has always been a church planted and grower in all the churches he has pastored. I do not remember one church that the walls have not bulged beyond capacity within a short time after he became their Pastor.

Bill and I are a lot a like in many ways when it comes to church growth. We still believe you have to go out and bring them in….

I got a good laugh at Ruby one morning. She decided she wanted  some sorghum on her biscuits, and informed me of it, which surprised me because she usually does not eat a lot of sweets early in the morning. Her blood sugar will bottom out so she is careful. She has low blood sugar.

We sit down, she grab up a jug, which the word on the jug did not say syrup, it said honey. I thought, well maybe she changed her mind. Anyway she put a pile of honey all over her two buttered biscuits. Just as she started to take a bite, I said, “Ruby, I thought you were going to eat some syrup today.” She informed me that what was on her biscuit. I informed her that it was not, and guess what her first bite I could have made a bundle if I had been a betting woman, but I am not…..  LOL

What a surprise to her pallet. It is like going into a restaurant ordering sweet tea, and getting un-sweet tea by mistake.

Oh, this is just not company breakfast. This is an everyday routine, if more than one person is in the house. Ruby tells all her company, to make yourselves at home. People have a good time and always want to go back.

Again, we need to stop, and be watching over the things that God has assigned to us. We need to stay in a prayful state of mind so if we happen to pick up honey instead of syrup, be will know that we know that God will be there to give us a clean start, (pallet.)  See, we may have again thought that something we were doing was just what God wanted for us. The honey tasted good for a while, but then our pallet started tasting a bitter taste when we realized that we just messed up in our change of schedule. We took a path at the wrong time.

But, dear friends, God will straighten things out for you. In His timing, and His way, He will bless  you, and lift you back up, because it will be His time for the purpose in your life.

Get ready, for God is fixing to do a new work in you, and ME!!!!!

Remember do not work so hard trying to accomplish something that is out of God’s timing. Just take a step back, stop, take time to rest, and enjoy what God has in store for us….

Boy, I must have been tired…

Cali had an exciting first day at Aunt Ruby’s and  played so hard and chewed her bone that she went to sleep right in the middle of Aunt Ruby’s floor.

Thank you Aunt Ruby for letting me come and visit you.

Monday devotion, get ready for Crawfish Pie, Jambalaya, Filet Gumbo…. Ice Cream and Hunter’s Chapel.