Sweet, Sweet Repentance

This morning, I had the amazing privilege of coming before the Lord in repentance with a loved one. We had begun a difficult conversation that quickly precipitated into a battle ground of hurts, fears, and unhealed, old wounds. The Lord watched silently as we delivered yet more bruises to one another, allowing us to wear ourselves out with our own flesh.

Donations Sought for Lucy's Big Surgery

Loving Lucy is now at her vet's office awaiting a big double-whammy surgery in which she will have her rear leg amputated and get spayed. Lucy, found by a Good Samaritan at an abandoned shack in rural Georgia, was diagnosed with a major leg problem possibly caused by a gunshot wound that left her unable to walk on her left rear leg. She is the perfect fit for the Walk by Faith dogs, which now include a two-footed dog, a three-legged dog, a paralyzed dog, a blind dog, and more. We are all learning how to WALK BY FAITH together - with the Lord leading the way.......!

Do You Fear Man or God?

Today, I made a decision to follow God rather than man. I made the decision to let go of a project I thoroughly enjoyed, and I did not just make a decision. I followed through on my decision. I let it go. The Lord had convicted me that my motives were not pure, and that I was enjoying the praise of man over the praise of God (John 12:43 KJV). He also showed me that I was placing my trust in man rather than fully in Him (Psalm 20:7 KJV). Additionally, He showed me that I was fearing man rather than fearing Him (Psalm 29:25). Was the decision easy? No. Was following through on the decision hard? Yes. But I am reminded that God honors obedience over sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22 KJV). So now what?

Mercy Walking by Faith

Gas Station Style Obedience

God honors obedience, and today I received yet another reminder of this at none other than a rural Georgia gas station where I had returned for the umpteenth time in my ongoing efforts to trap a dog hit by two cars over a month ago. This time, despite yet another failed attempt to trap her, I did not throw a two-year-old temper tantrum. Instead, I placed my trust in the Lord, relaxed, and kept my spiritual eyes and ears open for whatever the Lord might want to do. Given how many times I have been led to return to this gas station two hours from my home, I was already convinced God is up to something more than trapping a dog. My opportunities there have been endless, and today He surprised me when He brought me an unexpected, big blessing.

Paralyzed Dog Teaches Life Lesson

Leave it to the Lord to use a paralyzed dog to teach me yet another lesson about learning to walk by faith. When He led me to drive a long distance to rescue a dog in a rural Georgia shelter that had been hit by a car, I knew virtually nothing about her. I was told she likely had a broken pelvis that would probably heal without surgery. I quickly learned she had a back shattered so badly that two veterinarians recommended euthanization. But God was about to begin yet another lesson in faith when He spoke these words to me. "Do not give up on her." How could I give up on this sweet dog Mercy when God in His infinite mercy has never given up on me? So began teaching Mercy and me together a lesson in endurance.

Lessons in Endurance

Some lessons are easier, some lessons are easy, and some lessons are downright hard. As I have spent numerous hours, gas, time, and travel over the past two weeks trying to rescue an injured dog who has still yet to be caught, I saw one of the lessons God was trying to teach me. Perseverance. Patience. Endurance. I endured for a time, but then I found myself falling into everything but perseverance, patience, and endurance.

LUCY Needs Love, Prayers & Surgery

The Lord wasn't joking around when He sent me two weeks ago to pick up paralyzed Mercy in a rural Georgia shelter 5 hours away. I guess He figured He would make all the driving worthwhile by bringing two more canine kids under the wings of Walk by Faith Ministry. While the third injured dog has yet to be trapped, dog number two arrived just days ago with a big need for Love, Prayers, and Surgery.

Lucy, with a problem in her rear leg that causes her to walk on three legs, has been diagnosed with one of two possibilities - cancer or a leg cyst. She has two options - an amputation or major leg surgery. Lucy was rescued by a Good Samaritan in rural Georgia where he found her living under an abandoned shack. Despite her obvious pain and poor living conditions, Lucy arrived with a wonderful, happy, and oh so sweet disposition!

Next week, I will take Lucy and Mercy to the vet to decide how to proceed. In the meantime, I would be very grateful for your love, prayers, and donations for those who might feel led to contribute toward her cause. God didn't name this ministry Walk by Faith Ministry for no reason. Increasingly, as I learn to follow Jesus Christ by faith, I am blessed and privileged to help those who are learning to do the same - both people and homeless dogs, too.

The Pastor Who Preached His Way to Heaven

I just read an article about a pastor who passed away as soon as he finished preaching a powerful sermon about victory in life over the devil through faith in Jesus Christ. The pastor did not go home and call the doctor. He did not leave the church and call an ambulance. His family did not drive him to the hospital. He did not pass away at home. He went to heaven straight after finishing his sermon - right in the church. I cannot think of a better way to go home to be with the Lord than to finish this life loving and serving Him. This man did not pass away at the dinner table finishing off a delicious meal of fried chicken and mashed potatoes. He finished his life on earth by pouring out to his congregation the love and teaching the Lord had poured into him. Now that is what I call inspiration. 

Rom 12:1  "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

More Injured Dogs on the Way

When I drove 12 hours last week in a single day to pick up a dog paralyzed in a car accident that lay in a rural Georgia shelter, I had no idea how the Lord would move all along the way. Then again, I never do. I have long since discovered that when I am ready and willing to follow the Lord, He is ready and willing to move through me and Walk by Faith Ministry to deliver His love to the world around me. Such has been the case ever since my long drive to pick up Mercy the Miracle Dog. So what exactly transpired as a result, and what has happened in the week since?

Update on Mercy's Miracle

Mercy is off to the vet today to get her rabies shot. Why? Because Mercy isn't going to heaven anytime soon, contrary to what it looked like just a week ago when Walk by Faith Ministry pulled her from a shelter where she was brought paralyzed following a car accident. Despite the prognosis she would never live a quality, enjoyable life, she has proved that walking by faith is the way to go. What does this mean? I am learning constantly that God calls me to live by faith in Him rather than making decisions and living my life based on my circumstances and feelings. So what is Mercy up to these days?

Are You Prepared for God's Tests?

Ever gone into a test without being prepared? Ever taken a final exam without going to classes? This is nothing compared with the testing of God.

Taking Jesus to the Streets

One of my greatest joys is taking Jesus to the streets. Anyone who thinks my animal rescue missions are just about dogs doesn't know my heart. My number one passion in life is Jesus Christ, and my number one purpose is to love the Lord with all my heart and my neighbor as myself. As I spend my life learning to follow my precious Lord and Savior, I see everything in life as an opportunity to share the Gospel and to minister the Lord's love to a world in need.

Mercy's Tail Wagging Miracle

Update on Sweet Mercy

When my veterinarian recommended yesterday that I send Mercy to heaven after discovering her back is shattered, my answer was simple. "I can't make that decision without the Lord," I told Him. My veterinarian knows me well; he was not surprised.

After 12 hours of driving in a single day earlier this week to rescue Mercy from a rural Georgia shelter where she had been brought following being hit by a car, I was exhausted - to say the least. Not to mention during my 12 hour journey, I stopped at a gas station only to discover a puppy there had been hit by a car and needed rescue. I was unable to rescue the puppy, and will return this week with a trap and take her to the vet to address her badly mangled leg. As for Mercy, I looked forward to bringing her home and getting her started with her new life.

My vet's news was hard to hear.

Mercy Needs a Miracle!

Stay tuned to learn about Mercy's Miracle. 

In the meantime, please pray for her 

and consider a donation 

as she makes her way out of a rural Georgia shelter

to South Carolina under the wings of the Lord

and Walk by Faith Ministry........

Psa 136:26  "O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever."

Miracles in a Wal-Mart Parking Lot

I am so in awe of the Lord. His grace is so amazing. I am so humbled by His mercy. His amazing love. His amazing grace. His amazing miracles. Amazing, amazing, amazing miracles. This morning, at 11:00 am, I will meet two people in the Wal-Mart parking lot in Hardeeville, South Carolina. Big deal, right? Oh my God. I just realized how very amazing this is. Miracles, miracles, miracles. So amazing is our God. But why is this such a big deal?

When Human Strength Fails

I couldn't understand it, though I tried. I tried to understand. I kept typing. Kept trying. Trying to write. I needed to write an article. So I tried. And tried. I walked away from the computer. And returned. I must be too tired, I thought. I came home late from church last night. I didn't sleep well. I had a bad dream. I worked hard all week, well for part of the week anyway. Surely I would find the reason. I just couldn't get anywhere with my writing. Then it came to me. No, not the writing. Not the article I intended to write. The reason came to me. Why I couldn't write. My human strength had failed me - once again.

My Greatest Honor

It wasn't so long ago that I thought the greatest honor in serving God was to accomplish something big - big in my eyes, anyway. But times have changed, and I now know the greatest honor is not about what I accomplish at all. My greatest honor is watching God accomplish His mighty works through me. My successes today are not what they used to be. I have an Ivy League education, and this is not my greatest success. Nor is my resume. Nor is the fact I have written a book. Nor is it how many dogs I have adopted out through the years. So what is my greatest honor? What humbles me more than anything in serving God?

Stripped Naked Before God

I have a loved one who recently shared with me that he feels the Lord has stripped him. I have heard this terminology before. In fact, within 24 hours, someone related to my loved one shared the very same thing. She said she felt she had been stripped. I have a good friend who shared the same thing several years back. And they are not alone. There was a time I experienced the very same. Stripped. Naked. Before God. Naked before God. But why?

A Few Precious Walk by Faith "Kids"

Isn't Cupcakes CUTE? 

Cupcakes needs a HOME!

Peaceful & Quiet Please.....

Esther Loves her Cot,

BUT Loves Loves Loves

A Sunny Beautiful Day to Play.

Please help us

find Esther a HOME!

Hope, our Shy Girl,

LOVES TO RUN!

She needs some HOPE & PRAYERS

'cause everybody overlooks her

in favor of the other "kids".

Anybody know a safe & loving home

for MISS HOPE?!

Please contact love@walkbyfaithministry.com or call 843-338-2219

if you know anybody in the Hilton Head, SC, area

looking for a doggie to adopt!!!!

Tax Info for Our Donors

First and foremost, I thank God for every single person whom the Lord sent in 2011 to bless Walk by Faith Ministry with donations - monetarily, and, of course, in prayer and love!

All donors should have received an e-mail receipt, an e-mail thank you to use as a receipt, and/or a written thank you. I try to keep up with it all, but my plate tends to stay fairly full!

If you need and have not received a receipt for your 2011 donations, please send me an e-mail at love@walkbyfaithministry.com.

God bless you! 

A Very Special Blanket

Blankets are warm. Blankets are comfortable. Some are wool. Some are cotton. They come in many colors. Sizes. Even shapes. Some are handmade. Some are quilts. Some get spit out of factories. Some get stained. Others are thrown away. They have different purposes sometimes. Blankets have a life of their own. They cover people. They lie under some. Some help keep dogs warm in shelters. Some blankets are handed down through generations. I have had more blankets than most, I would imagine. After all, I use them for myself as well as all the dogs in my care. They are donated to me. Some are thrown away. Some the dogs shred. One blanket had a hole big enough for my beagle Speckles to poke her head through and wear as a dress. Just this morning, I came across a blanket so special I cannot help but share the story. It is  not just a story about a blanket. It is a story of victory - a story of triumph. This blanket's story is all about Jesus, and what a special blanket it is.

When Your Enemy Becomes Your Friend

This past week I had the best face to face conversation I have ever had with one of my best friends. This person who is now one of my dearest friends used to be my enemy. Or, if the truth be known, I saw this person as my enemy when in fact God had given me the opportunity to have a very special friend. I wonder how often those we see as our enemies are truly our opportunities to have great friends. Is it possible that our flesh, our pride, our fear, our hatred, our rebellion, our jealousy, and a host of other sins hold us back from seeing the possibilities when God places people in our lives? I cannot speak for you, but I can speak for myself. Some of the people I love the most today are those with whom I have had the greatest challenges in the past. Some of these people never wanted to speak to me again. Some of them ran. Some of them watched me run and never want to speak to them again. Today these people are some of my greatest blessings. What made the difference?

1. Jesus Christ

2. Love

3. Forgiveness

4. Willingness

5. Obedience

6. Thanksgiving 

I just got off the telephone with one of the greatest friends I have ever had. It wasn't so long ago that I had terminated our friendship, or so I thought. I was so offended by a choice she had made that my flesh could not stand the idea of continuing our friendship. I had judged her so harshly that I closed the door on our friendship and walked away. I held onto the offense for dear life, and declared to myself that I was done. Through. Finished. Never again.

But God had a different plan. He certainly could not work on my heart. Why? I would not allow Him to change my mind. But He worked on my friend's heart. So while I stewed, and fretted, and continued in my mental strife, my friend pursued the Lord. She prayed. And prayed. And she obeyed. When the Lord called her to reach out to me, after a long and grueling separation, she tossed her flesh aside and contacted me. Imagine how my flesh responded. Ugh. Yuck. No way. I still held the offense. Bitterness is dangerous. It not only hurt me. I had bitterness toward her, toward another loved one, toward myself, toward people from my past, and who did I not have bitterness toward? God decided He would not tolerate my stubbornness, so He took a hold of my heart.

Much to my chagrin, much to my amazement, my spirit rose up against my flesh and told it to get under subjection. My spirit responded to God and my friend and agreed to meet with her. I will never forget the day I took a walk with her. I had not seen her in so long. I wrapped my arms around my heart and held on for dear life. Now I had fear. I did not want to be hurt. I did not want take any risk. So while my spirit prevailed by meeting with my friend, my flesh moaned and groaned and stayed determined to keep the focus off me and make sure I did not take one single step in the direction of a restored friendship.

To this day, I cannot honestly say what happened. I can only say it was supernatural. No human, not even my friend, could have gotten through the hardness on my heart I held toward her. But God could. And God did. 

And a few years later now, she is one of the greatest blessings I have ever received from the Lord. We have one of the strongest, most honest, most beautiful, healthy, and Godly relationships I have ever had with a human. We laugh, we cry, we share, we pray, and we stay closely in touch despite my move to a different part of the country.

How can this be? Jesus Christ. Love. Forgiveness. Willingness. Obedience. And now? Thanksgiving. Through Jesus Christ, through His love and forgiveness, through the love and forgiveness He has given us through faith in Him, through our willingness to follow Him, and through our obedience, His love has the ultimate victory. I now have some of the dearest friends I have ever had. Some I once considered my enemy. But now I see the Lord's majesty - and thank Him for my sweet, sweet friends. 

Father, I pray that you would continue to change me so I become more like you. I pray you will continue to forgive me for when I fall short. I pray you will continue to help me and the rest of the world to come to faith in Jesus Christ, to love, to forgive, to be willing, to obey, and to express our thanksgiving to you. Thank you God for our relationship and for all the other relationships in my life. Where there is separation, anger, strife, hurt, bitterness, etc., please bring healing. Please reconcile this world to you. Please reconcile us to one another. Please help us to love one another as you have called us to do. Thank you Jesus for being my best friend. Thank you for all the other friends you have given me. Where I believe I have enemies, please help me to love them as friends. Please help me not to miss my opportunities to put aside my flesh and walk in the Spirit. Lord, please help our world to love like you. And may you use this writing to touch lives, open hearts, and transform us as we learn to love you, to trust you, and to follow you. Amen. 

John 13:34
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

Say Goodbye to Your Safe Places

I have a friend who just lost her job. I am watching her to see what she will do next. I am reminded of the times I have lost something or someone I love. I faced a choice. I could go back to my safe places, or I could see I had an opportunity to move forward with the Lord. I wish I could say I automatically moved forward. Often, I did not. I craved the comfort of the familiar, so I returned to my safe places. What I knew. Whom I knew. What I had already experienced. The places I had already been. The relationships I had already had. Safe. As I watch my friend to see what she will do, I cannot help but reflect on the choice I face now. I, too, am in transition. I, too, face the inevitable choice. Will I go back to my safe places, or will I carry on with the Lord?