Our family was blessed to at one time own a wonderful species of dog called a Border Collie. Sock’s was her name and boy was she ever a smart one. Energetic, inquisitive and oh yeah ornery to be sure. Her antics will live on in Throckmorton family history for at least a generation or two. She was a gift to my son Joe from one of our church members many years ago. Every boy needs a dog right? But somehow Joe’s dog became the family dog. Sock’s, aptly named for the white coloring on her front legs which gave her the appearance of having a tube sock on each front paw did have a few low moments in her early days of endearing doggy life. Her deep desire to dig up things, especially those things which we would have preferred be left UNDUG, was only eclipsed by the infamous Chicken Fiasco of 1999. The chickens were so much more expensive than the flowers by the way! After the little chicken incident we thought it prudent to invest in one of those state of the art underground K-9 fences. Those things are fantastic! You just bury a wire around the perimeter of your yard, hook up the little box that emits the electrical charge, and lastly put the handy dandy little collar around said pouch’s neck and viola, after a week or so of flag training your dogs straying days are over for good! Unless you have a Border Collie! Did I mention how smart socks was? A month or so had passed and one day Socks turned up missing in action. She was spotted outside her perimeter so I dutifully picked her up and proceeded to walk her back into her assigned territory. Let me just pause here and offer a little friendly advice to any buried fence owners or to anyone who may one day purchase one. Never, I repeat Never carry a wet dog that is wearing the afore described shock collar back across the buried fence. Whoa boy, those things will light you both up! And that nervous dog you are carrying will do all sorts of things when a healthy dose of electric current surges through their wet body! So back to the story, we were perplexed as to how Socks was exiting the yard still encased by the buried fence. I was convinced that the shocking action worked fine! Then one afternoon Terri was doing dishes looking out the back window and discovered socks escape strategy. This smart little pooch would tilt her head backward just far enough to cause the neck device to deactivate and then take little baby steps until she was free of the shock zone. Oh she was a smart one she was. But in the end the problem was someone was watching. Hence our lesson for today. Paul wrote to Titus, a student of his in the New Testament, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:11-14 Paul here had Titus best interests at heart, as does God when we are challenged by His word to love and obey. God is not like a mean old man who will stomp you like a bug if you step out of line, but a loving caring parent that sets standards and boundaries that are best for us. Why? Because he loves us dearly! You see, it was out of Love that we wanted to keep Socks in the yard where she would be safe and cared for. We may even become uncomfortable if we try to stray, but He is close by letting us know that we need to stay close to Him.
K. Hughes, writes in, Liberating Ministry From The Success Syndrome, “It was Christmas Eve 1875 and Ira Sankey was traveling on a Delaware River steamboat when he was recognized by some of the passengers. His picture had been in the newspaper because he was the song leader for the famous evangelist D.L. Moody. They asked him to sing one of his own hymns, but Sankey demurred, saying that he preferred to sing William B. Bradbury's hymn, "Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us." As he sang, one of the stanzas began, "We are Thine; do Thou befriend us. Be the Guardian of our way." When he finished, a man stepped from the shadows and asked, "Did you ever serve in the Union Army?" "Yes," Mr. Sankey answered, "in the spring of 1860." "Can you remember if you were doing picket duty on a bright, moonlit night in 1862?" "Yes," Mr. Sankey answered, very much surprised. "So did I, but I was serving in the Confederate army. When I saw you standing at your post, I thought to myself, 'That fellow will never get away alive.' I raised my musket and took aim. I was standing in the shadow, completely concealed, while the full light of the moon was falling upon you. At that instant, just as a moment ago, you raised your eyes to heaven and began to sing...'Let him sing his song to the end,' I said to myself, 'I can shot him afterwards. He's my victim at all events, and my bullet cannot miss him.' But the song you sang then was the song you sang just now. I heard the words perfectly: 'We are Thine; do Thou befriend us. Be the Guardian of our way.' Those words stirred up many memories. I began to think of my childhood and my God-fearing mother. She had many times sung that song to me. When you had finished your song, it was impossible for me to take aim again. I thought, 'The Lord who is able to save that man from certain death must surely be great and mighty.' And my arm of its own accord dropped limp at my side." Remember, God wants only what’s best for you; allow Him to have His way today in your life!
