“Always look around when your cat gazes behind you with that intent look in their eyes. Some day there might actually be something there.” – Anonymous

And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, ‘The Lord’; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.”  And the Lord continued, “See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.” Exodus 33:19-23

How do you feel the Spirit in your life? If you suddenly felt the hair on your neck stand up, or felt a slight shiver down your back, would you think the Holy Spirit was present, or a ghost was standing behind you? What should the spirit feel like, or look like? Paul tells us that “…the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.  And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27) Jesus calls the Spirit the “advocate” and the “comforter”.

There are times when I look at my cats and I wonder what they are thinking – and what they are looking at. Even the slightest bug or rogue light from outside can get them very excited – and verbalizing like there is some presence they need to stalk. There are other times where I think they might be able to look into another dimension – one that I cannot see – just like they can hear in decibels I could only hope to hear.

We need to be aware of those moments when the Holy Spirit is present in our lives – seeking to get our attention. It may come in the sigh of a friend or relative. It may come in the random phone call from someone in need. Or it may come in that intuition we often get that calls us to speak out, stop by, or share some time.

We may not always know what are cats are seeing, or hearing – but the Spirit is ever present. We just need to pay attention.

Pastor Dave

“A Cat Will Assume the Shape of its Container” – Anonymous

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.  Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.” 1 Timothy 4:1-5

We often assume the attitude, or thinking, or the behavior of those we hang out with the most. In other words, we will assume the shape of those who try to contain us. But to be people of faith, sometimes we are called to abandon the familiar to enter into the unknown. Cat’s are the poster children for getting themselves into the unknown. We have a cat that will jump into any cupboard, jump through any door that opens to her – leaping in before she actually takes a look. She has no idea what lies behind that door, or what is inside that cupboard – in she goes, as if following some hidden spirit that is calling her. This is often why a cat will assume the shape of its container – if they dive into a box, bottle, or vase, they will naturally assume that shape. And then they often need some help getting out.

We need to be careful that we do not fall victim to deceiving spirits that try to call us to follow. That is why we need to assume a cruciform shape in life – or in other words, our lives should be lived in the shape of the cross. The vertical life is our relationship with G-d. We look to G-d to discern G-d’s will in our lives. We listen for the Holy Spirit to call us as we learn to love G-d with our whole heart, mind and strength. The horizontal life is where we live out that relationship with G-d through the teaching of Jesus – who calls us to love our neighbor as much, or more than we love ourselves. It is a life where we are called to live in community – loving, forgiving, serving and discipling.

It is the Holy Spirit that will mold and shape us in this cruciform life. We just need to have ears to listen – and minds willing to discern.

Pastor Dave