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.

Leaving Georgia Headed to Cajun Country

We got up early on the morning of the 24th of February headed for Louisiana. We were supposed to be headed to Atlanta, Georgia to put Cali on a flight to Hollywood. But again, changes. Flight canceled for this week.

Cali was upset because the flight had been canceled, so she is praying over the situation.

Cali was a little upset. She was soooo… looking forward to meeting her new Mama,

Dr. Anna Aman, DVM

Here Anna is taking care of Patty. Patty belong to the Pit Bull Boss from TV.

Cali said, if she can take care of movie star dogs, I know she will take care of me.

After we cleaned up her room, we settled down, but Cali begged to look at the computer.

Cali loves to sit in my lap when I am working on the computer. She kept watching me to see if I was going to pack my computer before she had a chance to check some new flight arrangements out. After much discussion, I decided to let Cali look at the computer to prove to her that her flight had been canceled.

Oh, man, this can’t be…

No flights to California today on Pet Airways…

Hey, Grandma, I think I have found a flight for next Thursday….

Come check it out…

So at the insistence of Cali, I looked and called my daughter Anna so she could see if we could get her on the next flight. The airlines had told her because of the problem they would refund her money and fly Cali out on the next flight, the next week free.

So, if we could manage a couple of extra days in between Ministry Events, why not. We would change a few directions in our journey and put Cali on next weeks flight.

No problem, we were this far on this journey and also it put us a little closer to my sister Ruby’s house, so I called her and said, Ruby, I have a little time I can come by your house, but I have a puppy with me. What do you think? Of course she said come on, I will take my allergy medicine and the puppy will be find, and I will be also.

So, another small detour and change. Preaching engagements (Cali really learning to enjoy going around the United States while grandma preaches and shares God’s Word. )and still trying to get Cali on a flight to California. (Oh, have you realized yet that Cali is short for California.)

Anna thought of naming her Carolina, but I am a fan of North Carolina State University Wolfpacks, so her sister Tara and myself reminded her she could not be named Carolina. No Blue Tarheels,  just Wolkpack Red.

Also, her new mama Anna was a graduate of the North Carolina State University School of  Veterinarian Medicine. And her Aunt Tara is in the Graduate Program there and also works there.

See, my leash. Wolfpack Red…

After we put Cali in the car to leave Cusseta, Georgia,  for the first time Cali just could not settle down. I almost never got on the road. I kept having to stop and let her out thinking she needed to potty, giving her water, and just playing with her.

I guess when she realized that since we were not going to the airport in Atlanta today, the GPS had been set to a different direction. She, in her heart was still hoping that the Airlines was wrong and she wanted to get on a plane to California, and not go to Louisiana.

Does this sound familiar. God wants us to change our plans at times, but we get stubborn and want our own way. We want to go in our own directions and do our own thing.

See, we need to let God lead us and go the path He wants for us. His word tells us that He wants nothing but good for us, but sometimes we bring hardships on ourselves by not listening to him. We must remember what His Word says in Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Anyway on this day the trip started a little rocky. I finally stopped again, went in a store and got Cali a special treat. She got in her kennel and started chewing away on her all natural vegetable shape bone.

Yes, I am talking to you here, as well as myself. Sometimes God will give us our way a little bit when we are being stubborn, and we think boy, this is good, I know I was right all along. But soon because we did not follow His plans the treat only lasted a little time, and then we realized we should have listen to that still small voice that leads us in the right path. For the prize at the end of God’s path would have been much better for us, and we would have enjoyed the victory much longer.

After finally getting out of Georgia, we kept trucking on down the road headed to Louisiana. I promise Iris and Cali that I would see if we could eat some crawfish while in Louisiana. Well, Cali or Iris did not seem to impressed with the idea of eating something that they thought live in a ditch. I tried to explain to them that they were farm raised Crawfish. They both just looked at me and said, “Whatever.”

I then said, “well, I promise to take you to the country store where Mama Hunter used to love to get ice cream.” They both smiled, but I did not tell them where the store was, or how I really meant a real old county time store. Not a newly remodeled, or built to look like a old store, but the real thing. I felt that Cali and Iris needed a little surprise in their life. LOL

Anyway we arrived in Rayville, Louisiana around 6:30pm and I called Ruby and told we were going to stop and pick something up to eat and what would she like. We all agreed we would run by the Sonic and get a sandwich and a Route 44 sweet tea and Dr. Pepper, take it to Ruby’s relax and enjoy.

We left the Sonic went about a mile and a half on a four lane main highway, then turned down a  very crooked country two lane road, called The Nelson Bend Road, headed towards my sister’s home.  ( You know I need to find out why it is called Nelson Bend Road.) The reason the road is so crooked it follows the Beouf River. As we were making our way towards Ruby’s house, Iris made the statement, “Hey, you meet yourself coming back on this road. ” I thought, you ain’t seen nothing yet.” Now, both Iris and Cali enjoyed going over the Mississippi Bridge. In Mississippi the land is a little mountainous, but the minute you cross the Mississippi the land is flat as far as you can see. That was a treat for them, but now they were going to find out what country really is.

One thing that Iris noticed was the Louisiana, Mississippi line in right in the middle of the river. When you are crossing the bridge which is over a mile long, and you get to the middle of the bridge, there is a sign, (according to the direction you are going, either west or east.)  that shows, Louisiana State line, as for us because we were going west.

Now who decided this is where the line would be? On the Mississippi side you have gambling casino’s up and down the Mississippi River. But there are none on the Louisiana side which is odd if you know any history of Louisiana politics

We went about seven miles then I turned on to another country road that had no lines in it, and the Cypress Trees were right up at the roads edge with moss hanging over the road. And of course the trees were in what we called the break, others call a Bayou. I explained to Cali, NO, stopping here to potty, or she might become a snack for an Alligator.

This is the Break (Bayou) that is behind Ruby’s Daughter Home.

Oh, while we were in Georgia, Hubert whom came over to Junior and Frances to visit us, had told Iris that when he was a young his parents came to Louisiana to visit. And while they were there my niece Jackie and myself took them down a long road that had big trees with moss in them. A very crooked road. Not paved at that time, just a gravel road. He also told Iris and Cali that he heard Pat say to Jackie, “Break,” but really did not play attention, because it was dark and a little scary. Then all of a sudden, Pat shammed on her breaks, blew the car horn and Jackie and her screamed to the top of their lungs. Then Jackie and Pat laughed as they watched my sister, Joyce,  and me climbing out of the floorboard of the car, needing to change clothes as soon as they got back to the house.

We always love to play that prank on the kids.

Yes, this is the same road that I now have Iris and Cali on. NO, I did not play the trick on them.

Now do not get me wrong, if you see this area, you will see how beautiful it is. So relaxing and peaceful, just do not step into the Bayou. (This is another story I will share sometimes. But I will say, that my brother James said that he went hunting out in the break one day. When he stopped and looked around there was a snake on every log, and that is when he had the faith of Peter and walked on water.)

Sometimes God may take you down a road that you may not quite be sure of, but do not worry, He knows what He is doing. Just have the faith of Peter and step out of the boat. The outcome will be wonderful. The end of the road will be well worth the wait. So, don’t stop and get out to go find your own way. You might meet and Alligator in your path. You know, that thing called satan.

Anyway, after going down this road a little over a mile, we turned down a smaller road, but at the end of that road was a huge beautiful brick home with a wonderful large yard, pecan trees, magnolia trees, pastures with lots of cows, sitting in the Bend of the banks of the Bouef River. 

Iris and Cali were so relieved. They were beginning to say, “where in the world is she taking us?”

See, we cannot always go by what we see. God knows what the end of the road will be like. And friends, it is well worth the wait. Oh, the beauty of God’s handiwork in our lives. We may go down many crooked and narrow roads, some maybe at times a little scary and even make us feel uncertain at times, but this is just a growing process for us.  But oh my, what splendor is waiting for us when we arrive at our destination. Praise God and All Glory Be To God.

Now, just wait for tomorrow night. Remember, I said pasture with cows. Now that is another story.

Cali saying hello to her Aunt Ruby…

Also, saying thank you to her for letting her stay in the house and not outside with those big funny looking things…

Part 2
The Adventures of Pastor Pat and Cali

I do hope you enjoy the next few nights of The Adventures of Pastor Pat, Cali, and Iris. You will see and hear more about Iris in the Louisiana section.

By the end of this series, you will see many miracles that God has performed, and how many people were touched, including myself,  just because I was obedient and accepted change.

Also, how He allowed certain things to happen that would affect the coming days, and people, in mighty ways.

Also, if you missed Part I of this series, scroll down to yesterday’s devotion.

Cali, first night in North Carolina, at Aunt Tara’s
2 pounds of love. As you can see in picture below, her toy and she were the same size.

Cali came to us via her Aunt Tara.  Again, I said, “how did I get involved with this situation? And little did I know that Cali and I would soon become traveling partners.

When we first brought Cali to our house, our dogs, Sara and Katie, thought, “Oh no! What is this thing?”

Sara and Katie saying, “What is this thing?” Pictures below tell the or show the conversation.

Cali’s first day at grandma’s

Sara whispering to her, “Now here is how it is, if you do not piddle on the floor, you will get Grandma to do anything for you. Now take my advice on this, okay?.”

Well, all I can say is Cali listened pretty good. And she is an excellent traveler.
We left Florida for Cusseta, Georgia, on February 23rd. Cali in tow in the back seat, in her portable kennel. Iris riding shotgun, and of course, myself driving.

Why were we going to Georgia anyway? Remember, to put Cali on a plane for California, which would leave from Atlanta, something that has not happened yet.

Again, how do you handle change in your schedule, or your plans? You listen to God and just do it. Do not stress over it, just go with the flow.
So, while passing from Florida to Atlanta we would be going right by our dear friends’ house, Junior and Frances. How did I meet these people down in Georgia?  My daddy was in civil service at Ft. Benning, and my family lived in Cusseta when I was in the 4th through 9th grades.

I would have gone to Cusseta School for the 10th grade, but our school was burned to the ground the night before the first day of desegregation was to begin. So, we were bussed to Buena Vista, Georgia, to attend school.

I also walked the aisle at Cusseta Baptist Church at the age of 10, to give my life to God to be a Missionary, to preach His word. And of course First Baptist Church in Dothan, Alabama is where I was saved at the age of 5 years old. So, traveling and ministering through my old stomping grounds was an honor for me. “God is so Good. All the time God is Good.”

Oh, I also had my very first double date there in Cusseta, one week before I turned 16. My daddy was not happy at all with the decision of Mama letting me go to the party. Only 3 houses down from our house. LOL

Anyway we dated for over a year, until my daddy retired and we moved to Louisiana. Don’t tell Joe, (I got my first kiss in Cusseta.) Hey, it does not bother Joe. We went to a class reunion there, and Joe got a picture of me giving Jim a hug, and him hugging me back. My girls said, “Mom, he was and is cute.” They showed pictures of us in school. I told them to look at their dad, I have pretty good taste. LOL

This is the reason I was excited about visiting old friends. What a time we had. Even Cali was welcome in their home. I called them ahead of time and made sure. As you can see below, they gave her a nice place to sleep the one night we were there. Now, they were, as my sister Ruby, not really pleased about it, but they helped us out in our need.

Oh, by the way, since Cali stayed in their home, well they say that they blame it on me. LOL They now have a 5 pound puppy. A Yorkie. Hummmm? Cali must have touched their sweet hearts with her sweet heart.

Cali resting after a long day of traveling to Georgia

After arriving at their home, I asked Frances if I could do some wash. She said please go ahead, make yourself at home. So, I got my dirty clothes out of the car and took them to the utility room.  Frances had told me she had some clothes in the washer and dryer, but as soon as they were removed I could wash them.

I continued to get our things out of the car, and got Cali settled and walked her. Then she ate, and was ready for a long nap.

Junior and Frances were so surprised that Cali did not bark or whine one time. She is such a good puppy.

While I was there, another friend, Judy, dropped in to visit and I forgot the wash. We began talking about the Lord, and praying for her brother, Peter, and time flew by so fast. It must have been over an hour, because the next thing I knew, Frances had already started the first load, and began to put it in the dryer. She came into the living room, and in her hand was… guess what? My necklace. Yes, the necklace was somewhere in my clothes all day long the day I lost it. I realized that it was not on my neck when we were at Iris’ granddaughter’s house in Florida around lunch time, so I went over 12 hours with the necklace in my clothes somewhere. I still do not know how nor where.

Listen, we even went out to eat that night at the Cracker Barrel, and the necklace still stayed in my clothes. That is also the night Iris’ granddaughter came back to the hotel, helped me look for my necklace, and I even called myself checking my clothes while they were still on me. That is also the night that I was down on the floor picking up millions and zillions of pieces of telephone book. And that necklace miraculously did not fall out of my clothes. And because I got so hot and sweaty looking for the necklace and cleaning up after Cali, I pulled my clothes off and put in the dirty clothes bag. I usually would wear a pair of jeans two days in a row. But not that night. I only wore those jeans once. (See, God still doing His thing.)

See how good God is to us if we are living according to His word?  He knows the desires of our heart and things that are so special to us, even small things like a necklace.

John 15:7
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you can asked what you will and it shall be!!!

See, that little word, “IF.”  If you are following this verse, you will only want what God wants for you, and your desires shall be God’s desires also.

God knew I loved that necklace, and He allowed it to hang somewhere in my clothes, and not fall off the entire day. Again, even while I was on the floor picking up pieces of the phone book that Cali and shredded.

Hey, you may have some tough times, but know that God is always there for you. I did not like having to clean the room after Cali’s assault attack on the phone book, but I did not get mad, I just told her NO! Bad! and starting cleaning the room. Afterwards, she walked up to the side of the bed, and wanted me to pick her up. I did and she told me she was sorry, by giving me a lot of sweet puppy kisses on the side of my neck. I will not let any dog kiss me on the face,  and I do not allow dogs in my bed also, but wait until about Part 4 of this series.

The tiny chain was in a hundred little knots. But between Junior, Frances and Iris, they got them all out by using a needle. The heart was not even hurt in the wash. Hey, another miracle, the small necklace did not spin out and down the drain while the washer was in spin cycle.  God doing His thing again.

We had the best time. Frances cooked the most delicious Taco Soup and homemade cornbread. I was in hog heaven. She put broccoli and cheese in her cornbread. Honey, it was so good that it would make you as we say in the south, ‘want to slap your grandma.’ LOL (not really we respect our elders. It is just a saying.”

Another friend, Hubert, and his family, came for supper, and he brought deer chili. I had already filled up on the soup, but I told Hubert I wanted to taste his chili and see if he was a good cook. I said now I only want just a little, like barely 1/4 of a bowl. I can tell you that he does not know his measurements, because I also inquired how much hot sauce was in the chili. He said he only put a teaspoon in the pot.  I reminded him I may have been born in Louisiana, but my stomach was now North Carolina.   Again, he must have been sick the day they studied measurements in school. My first bite was I thought okay, but then by the second, steam was coming out my ears. He was laughing at me, and saying, “Pat you do not need to finish it.” I tried a little more to be polite, but soon handed him the bowl and asked to look at the teaspoon he used. The chili was delicious, and if my mama was alive she would have enjoyed seeing all these friends grown up, and doing so well, and she could have eaten Hubert’s chili. She ate hot and spicy things, until just a few weeks before she took her Heavenly Journey Home, at the age of 93.

After company left, we sat around talking about old times, and of course the Lord. I prayed for Frances’ body to be healed, and we had church. Then we all went to bed. The next morning we got up, packed and headed for Louisiana.

Now remember from last nights story,  ticks, and me walking Cali when I got to Georgia, and in Georgia several times. Well, tomorrow you will learn a little more of that story. Also, look forward to Cali and the Cows, Iris and the Crawfish boil, Hunter’s Chapel, Revival, Ice Cream and much more.
Please know that change happens. It sometimes happens for a reason and a season. Do not worry, just hold on to God.
As Cali says below: How sweet it is.

Oh, I ate to much. But how sweet it is……..
Devotion Written and Posted By: Pastor Pat Aman  Book © 1996/2015, “Coffee With Pat Daily Devotionals”

The Adventures of Cali and Pastor Pat

Part 1

Today’s devotion maybe a little long, but I feel I cannot leave out ONE detail. This devotion will probably be a three part devotion over the next few days.

I want to share with you how I know that God is working through His people. Well, at least the ones whom are willing to be a vessel for Him, and the ones whom will go with the flow when PLANS HAVE CHANGED OR HAVE BEEN REARRANGED.

I promise you with my hand up in the air that this devotion is the truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God.

Now, on with the story.  I just returned from a ministry trip/short vacation/supposedly deliver a dog to the airport.

Why not do all these things Mama, since you are going that way. LOL

I would be leaving North Carolina with Iris Lucas, who would be traveling with me, as I Ministered and Preached, and enjoying a short vacation. But now, I would soon learn that things have a way of changing at any moment.  I would now be taking Iris to see her granddaughter, on the way to to deliver a dog, and to preach.  You know, from North Carolina, via Florida, via Georgia, via Louisiana, back to Georgia to airport again, then home.

Well, first God has a since of humor for sure. My older daughter got my younger daughter a puppy. (I should have known that I would wind up in the middle of the whole ordeal.) As a matter of fact, since I have returned home, I have informed everyone involved, that if they are thinking of getting anyone a dog, and it will involve me, STOP and KICK themselves in the backside. LOL

Now, why she, my younger, could not have gotten a puppy in California, beats me.  So, how do you get a dog from North Carolina to California? Ha, airplane! How does the dog get on the airplane? Ha! Mama since you are going that way, would you please drop Cali (the puppy) off in Atlanta at the airport? Oh, this puppy is not flying cargo, but on a special airline that flies animals only. You know, first class, private attendent, and you can see and check on your animal from your computer. Check link out below. Oh, by the way, they fly us coach when we go to visit them. Sometimes the planes I have ridden on, I think they must have gotten a good price from the local crop duster.  LOL

Ann Hopewell and Cali in the Tractor Supply

Now, this is a special puppy. Even a couple in the Tractor Supply told Ann Hopewell and myself this puppy needed to go to Hollywood, in which I said, “give me until the 24th of February and she is out of here.”  They laughed when I told them that her human mama lives in Los Angeles, and that Cali would be flying out then to Hollywood.  Her mama only lives about 5 miles from Hollywood. The gentleman said, ” I would never in a million years have expected that answer.” Hey before this story is over, I would never in a million years  have expected so many of the following events to take place.

http://petairways.com

This is when I decided, well, let me call Iris and see if she would like to leave a few days earlier, maybe February 21st, and I would take her to Florida to see her grandchildren.  Then we would leave on February 23rd to go to Georgia and visit some friends, especially one whom had said, “Pat, if you could just come and lay hands on me and pray, I know God will heal me.” ( Friends, please pray for my friend, Frances, in Georgia. Oh, because of Cali, and now me, we may be on the road to discover what maybe causing Frances’ sickness.) Then we would leave their house in Georgia on the  morning of the 24th, to drop Cali (puppy) in Atlanta to fly to California. Then, on to Louisiana, where I would Minister God’s Word.

Here is where God’s sense of humor comes into the picture.  Even before we got to Florida, I received a call that tells me Cali’s flight has been cancelled.  When I received the call, I looked at Iris and said, “God has a sense of humor.” Yes, that was the first words out of my mouth. Praise God, I was prayed up, or I may have not felt that way.  Here I am, going to preach, and now I have a dog to take with me, so I can then return to Atlanta at a later date to put her back on a rescheduled flight.

So I called my sister, Ruby, and said, “Ruby , I can come your way now, but I will have a puppy with me, is that okay?” She agreed, no problem.  So off we go to continue our trip. Pastor Pat, Iris, and now Cali. The Three Amigos.

Grandma Pastor Pat and Cali

Oh, before I stopped using Ms. Clairol, number no gray. LOL

By now, Cali has become very close to her human grandma, and I have become pretty fond of her.  She has had the best Veterinary Care, medicines, shots, flea and tick treatment, and of course her Heart Guard.  Before this story ends, you will see that Grandma Pat should have been treated also with Frontline for ticks and fleas. And, Praise God, I did have my Heart Guarded.

We arrived in Florida, where I dropped Iris off at her grandchildren, and Cali and I headed to a hotel.

So, now my trip involves me getting up early each morning for the next few days, so Cali and I can pray as we take our morning walk, and Cali taking care of a little extra business herself in the beautiful Florida weather. (Oh, except the day it rained). Then we would go back to our room, feed Cali her breakfast, study God’s Word, get dressed, and go to spend some time with Iris and her family.  I left Cali in the hotel room, returning several times a day to let her out of her kennel to go potty. Well, sometimes I did not have to let her out. Yes, a 10 week old puppy, who weighed a total of 9 lbs at the time, suddenly became,  I truly believe, Houdini.  She would unzip her portable kennel. ( A big kennel for a 50lb dog, so she would have plenty of room.) I should have known, because this is the same puppy, that at 2 lbs, pushed her blanket and toy up to the corner of a 2 foot high 30 gallon container and would jump down to the floor. I have video to prove it.

There were times I was so glad I had just finished praying for the housekeeper, or the hotel clerk, or ministering to one of the guests, who would come up to me and ask me to pray for them, because someone had told them that there is a preacher that would be glad to pray for them. I think that few days in Gainesville, Florida, everyone decided I had the means to solve all their  problems. I would tell them I cannot do anything, but I know a God who can. The housekeeper grabbed me one morning, and started dancing. She said, “you prayed for me, and God healed me. Praise God!”

Oh, why was I glad I had just prayed with someone? Because, when I walked into the room, Houdini had managed to unzip her kennel to look up a number in the phone book. I figured that either she could not find the number she was looking for, and she got disgusted, or  pizza delivery boy would not deliver a pizza to her, so she took it out on the 6 inch thick telephone book and chewed it to pieces. Do you know how many pieces there are to pick up from a shredded 6 inch  thick telephone book?

I DO!

Who Me? I did not do it.

I do not chew things. I plead not guilty.

Oh, she is also a very good advisor on what you need to wear for the day. If she does not like what you have picked out, including shoes, she takes them to her kennel, and gets you something else that she likes better for you to wear. I am so glad I took three pair of tennis shoes with me on this trip.

While walking Cali, everyone fell in love with her. The hotel owner, housekeeper, guests, yard workers, and each and every person she came in contact with. But, while walking her I managed to lose a necklace that I had been wearing for over 28 years. Joe wears the other half. It is a heart that states best friends with the date we got married and our names engraved on it. (June 18, 1977) Oh, the necklace was found, but not where you expected. You will find out later on in this devotion. No, it was not in Cali’s kennel, maybe the only thing that did not get into her kennel on that trip.

Friends when you are friendly to others and they see God in you, they will go out of their way to help you. The hotel had all their employees, including the people blowing the leaves off the sidewalk, looking for my necklace. I told them I could have bought another one for under $50.00, but that one was just sentimental.  They were so determined to find that necklace for me.

Remember, when you show God’s Love, God will always have someone there to help you when you need help. Someone asked me if it frightened me to be alone at the hotel. I said, “no.” I know that I have a big God, and He is in control. I know that when I pray, study His word, and take the time to have an intimate relationship with Him, He will watch over me. He will protect me from anything that tries to come against me and harm me. So why should I be afraid?

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 youPart 2 of the story will be tomorrow’s devotion. Remember, we have not even reached the flea and tick part yet. And remember, it was not Cali that had the problem. LOL

Oh, the names have not been changed to protect the innocent.

Part 2
The Adventures of Pastor Pat and Ca

I do hope you enjoy the next few nights of The Adventures of Pastor Pat, Cali, and Iris. You will see and hear more about Iris in the Louisiana section.

By the end of this series, you will see many miracles that God has performed, and how many people were touched, including myself,  just because I was obedient and accepted change

Also, how He allowed certain things to happen that would affect the coming days, and people, in mighty ways.Also, if you missed Part I of this series, scroll down to yesterday’s devotion.

Cali, first night in North Carolina, at Aunt Tara’s
2 pounds of love. As you can see in picture below, her toy and she were the same size.

Cali came to us via her Aunt Tara.  Again, I said, “how did I get involved with this situation? And little did I know that Cali and I would soon become traveling partners.

When we first brought Cali to our house, our dogs, Sara and Katie, thought, “Oh no! What is this thing?”

Sara and Katie saying, “What is this thing?” Pictures below tell the or show the conversation.

Cali’s first day at grandma’s

Sara whispering to her, “Now here is how it is, if you do not piddle on the floor, you will get Grandma to do anything for you. Now take my advice on this, okay?.”

Well, all I can say is Cali listened pretty good. And she is an excellent traveler.
We left Florida for Cusseta, Georgia, on February 23rd. Cali in tow in the back seat, in her portable kennel. Iris riding shotgun, and of course, myself driving.

Why were we going to Georgia anyway? Remember, to put Cali on a plane for California, which would leave from Atlanta, something that has not happened yet.

Again, how do you handle change in your schedule, or your plans? You listen to God and just do it. Do not stress over it, just go with the flow.
So, while passing from Florida to Atlanta we would be going right by our dear friends’ house, Junior and Frances. How did I meet these people down in Georgia?  My daddy was in civil service at Ft. Benning, and my family lived in Cusseta when I was in the 4th through 9th grades.

I would have gone to Cusseta School for the 10th grade, but our school was burned to the ground the night before the first day of desegregation was to begin. So, we were bussed to Buena Vista, Georgia, to attend school.

I also walked the aisle at Cusseta Baptist Church at the age of 10, to give my life to God to be a Missionary, to preach His word. And of course First Baptist Church in Dothan, Alabama is where I was saved at the age of 5 years old. So, traveling and ministering through my old stomping grounds was an honor for me. “God is so Good. All the time God is Good.”

Oh, I also had my very first double date there in Cusseta, one week before I turned 16. My daddy was not happy at all with the decision of Mama letting me go to the party. Only 3 houses down from our house. LOL

Anyway we dated for over a year, until my daddy retired and we moved to Louisiana. Don’t tell Joe, (I got my first kiss in Cusseta.) Hey, it does not bother Joe. We went to a class reunion there, and Joe got a picture of me giving Jim a hug, and him hugging me back. My girls said, “Mom, he was and is cute.” They showed pictures of us in school. I told them to look at their dad, I have pretty good taste. LOL

This is the reason I was excited about visiting old friends. What a time we had. Even Cali was welcome in their home. I called them ahead of time and made sure. As you can see below, they gave her a nice place to sleep the one night we were there. Now, they were, as my sister Ruby, not really pleased about it, but they helped us out in our need.

Oh, by the way, since Cali stayed in their home, well they say that they blame it on me. LOL They now have a 5 pound puppy. A Yorkie. Hummmm? Cali must have touched their sweet hearts with her sweet heart.

Cali resting after a long day of traveling to Georgia

After arriving at their home, I asked Frances if I could do some wash. She said please go ahead, make yourself at home. So, I got my dirty clothes out of the car and took them to the utility room.  Frances had told me she had some clothes in the washer and dryer, but as soon as they were removed I could wash them.

I continued to get our things out of the car, and got Cali settled and walked her. Then she ate, and was ready for a long nap.

Junior and Frances were so surprised that Cali did not bark or whine one time. She is such a good puppy.

While I was there, another friend, Judy, dropped in to visit and I forgot the wash. We began talking about the Lord, and praying for her brother, Peter, and time flew by so fast. It must have been over an hour, because the next thing I knew, Frances had already started the first load, and began to put it in the dryer. She came into the living room, and in her hand was… guess what? My necklace. Yes, the necklace was somewhere in my clothes all day long the day I lost it. I realized that it was not on my neck when we were at Iris’ granddaughter’s house in Florida around lunch time, so I went over 12 hours with the necklace in my clothes somewhere. I still do not know how nor where.

Listen, we even went out to eat that night at the Cracker Barrel, and the necklace still stayed in my clothes. That is also the night Iris’ granddaughter came back to the hotel, helped me look for my necklace, and I even called myself checking my clothes while they were still on me. That is also the night that I was down on the floor picking up millions and zillions of pieces of telephone book. And that necklace miraculously did not fall out of my clothes. And because I got so hot and sweaty looking for the necklace and cleaning up after Cali, I pulled my clothes off and put in the dirty clothes bag. I usually would wear a pair of jeans two days in a row. But not that night. I only wore those jeans once. (See, God still doing His thing.)

See how good God is to us if we are living according to His word?  He knows the desires of our heart and things that are so special to us, even small things like a necklace.

John 15:7
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you can asked what you will and it shall be!!!

See, that little word, “IF.”  If you are following this verse, you will only want what God wants for you, and your desires shall be God’s desires also.

God knew I loved that necklace, and He allowed it to hang somewhere in my clothes, and not fall off the entire day. Again, even while I was on the floor picking up pieces of the phone book that Cali and shredded.

Hey, you may have some tough times, but know that God is always there for you. I did not like having to clean the room after Cali’s assault attack on the phone book, but I did not get mad, I just told her NO! Bad! and starting cleaning the room. Afterwards, she walked up to the side of the bed, and wanted me to pick her up. I did and she told me she was sorry, by giving me a lot of sweet puppy kisses on the side of my neck. I will not let any dog kiss me on the face,  and I do not allow dogs in my bed also, but wait until about Part 4 of this series.

The tiny chain was in a hundred little knots. But between Junior, Frances and Iris, they got them all out by using a needle. The heart was not even hurt in the wash. Hey, another miracle, the small necklace did not spin out and down the drain while the washer was in spin cycle.  God doing His thing again.

We had the best time. Frances cooked the most delicious Taco Soup and homemade cornbread. I was in hog heaven. She put broccoli and cheese in her cornbread. Honey, it was so good that it would make you as we say in the south, ‘want to slap your grandma.’ LOL (not really we respect our elders. It is just a saying.”

Another friend, Hubert, and his family, came for supper, and he brought deer chili. I had already filled up on the soup, but I told Hubert I wanted to taste his chili and see if he was a good cook. I said now I only want just a little, like barely 1/4 of a bowl. I can tell you that he does not know his measurements, because I also inquired how much hot sauce was in the chili. He said he only put a teaspoon in the pot.  I reminded him I may have been born in Louisiana, but my stomach was now North Carolina.   Again, he must have been sick the day they studied measurements in school. My first bite was I thought okay, but then by the second, steam was coming out my ears. He was laughing at me, and saying, “Pat you do not need to finish it.” I tried a little more to be polite, but soon handed him the bowl and asked to look at the teaspoon he used. The chili was delicious, and if my mama was alive she would have enjoyed seeing all these friends grown up, and doing so well, and she could have eaten Hubert’s chili. She ate hot and spicy things, until just a few weeks before she took her Heavenly Journey Home, at the age of 93.

After company left, we sat around talking about old times, and of course the Lord. I prayed for Frances’ body to be healed, and we had church. Then we all went to bed. The next morning we got up, packed and headed for Louisiana.

Now remember from last nights story,  ticks, and me walking Cali when I got to Georgia, and in Georgia several times. Well, tomorrow you will learn a little more of that story. Also, look forward to Cali and the Cows, Iris and the Crawfish boil, Hunter’s Chapel, Revival, Ice Cream and much more.
Please know that change happens. It sometimes happens for a reason and a season. Do not worry, just hold on to God.
As Cali says below: How sweet it is.

Oh, I ate to much. But how sweet it is……..
Devotion Written and Posted By: Pastor Pat Aman  Book © 1996/2015, “Coffee With Pat Daily Devotionals”