GOD SPEAKS THROUGH CAT PARABLES

I enjoy watching animals and hearing stories about their behavior.  They each have such distinct personalities, even among their own species.  The Lord taught me a concept about “waiting upon Him” through Cally, our cat.  She had a funny and independent personality.  When she was in the mood for love, she’d run right up to you and want your touch.  But when she was not, she’d meander up the walkway when you called her, but stopping just short of your arm’s reach.  The problem was, either way, when I reached out to touch her, she moved.  So I’d take one step forward, reach out and touch her and then she’d move back one more step.  This went on and on!

I was thinking about Cally one day while writing about how it takes the Lord time to set up His Words to us, and how it is important to give Him time to answer our needs.  When the Lord starts talking to us about issues, He prepares His Words to be ready for us as we need them.  But what if we stop just short of receiving His Word?  [As in requesting something from Him, then stopping short of hearing what He wants to give.]  Or what if we come to Him gladly, letting Him touch us, and He wants to continue touching us right in the exact location we are in, but  we move away.  [As in hearing Him via sermon, and not staying in that same place of reception when the service is over — then walking out the church doors, missing the next Word that lines up exactly with what He is still saying.]

As I thought about this, I realized that was exactly what I was doing at the time.  My jump up and skitter/scatter behavior towards sitting at the Lord’s feet and really searching His Words to me had become erratic and I wasn’t giving Him the time He needed to complete anything He started.  I was making it very difficult for His Word to come through my rushing.  I prayed for His help to remind me to be still and hear Him everywhere, and not to be caught up in my hurried surroundings.  Thank you Lord.  Thank you Cally.

Some time later I wasn’t feeling well and stayed in bed and rested.  I decided to read my journal notes of the  Lord’s various Words to me in all the delightful ways He speaks. I was really enjoying spending the time with Him, and I had my Bible, devotional books, notes, pens and markers, pillows and all my creature comforts spread out all over the bed.  That night I had a dream about Cally. She did a miracle!  She voluntarily climbed into my lap, was sprawled out and hanging all over me.  I had such a wonderful time loving her and she really liked it!  I was really tickled when I awoke and realized it was the Lord’s way of saying He enjoyed my day as much as I did!!!

SAFE BOUNDARIES

One day I witnessed a very strong parable about finding safe boundaries.  This was one of those times when the Lord speaks His Word to us through His creation. I was watching Cally our cat. She had the daily habit of walking across the street and disappearing into the tall field of grass. It was only after she had her babies that we discovered what she was doing. She was hunting for mice.

After the babies were born she would carry the mice gently in her mouth like a kitten, and bring them back live to her babies. As she approached her babies, she would drop the live mouse at their feet and they would jump and scamper all around chasing it. At that age I never did see them actually eat a mouse, but they did learn to catch them and play with them. I shuddered to think how many live mice she was bringing home that were hiding around our home.

One day I saw Cally walk out to the end of the driveway. She was obviously headed to her field. Her kittens followed her like a string of ducks. Cally got half way across the street then turned her head and saw her kittens. She turned around and walked back to the driveway and faced her kittens head on. Her kittens did not run up to her for love, play or milk like they normally did. They stood still in their tracks just as Cally was doing to them. After they were standing head-on still like this, she turned around and took a few steps in the street, then turned her head again to see if they were following. Sure enough the string of kitty-ducks were moving to follow. She returned to the driveway and repeated the gesture, and they stood still. She did this 3 times and so did they!!!! She was not getting through to them. The last time she came back to the driveway, her hair stood out and she hissed at them! Fur balls at attention… they did not follow her across the street! They returned to our yard and scampered about.

THE CAT FIGHT

One day I witnessed a cat fight in our backyard. It was an amazing sign to me and sent by the angels. It was the first I had ever seen like this, and also had never seen in our yard during daylight.

The big fat, almost blind calico was loudly snarling and screaming intimidation against the smaller black and white one. The black and white one held its ground, only backed away a couple steps, but did not utter a word or run away. He stayed very still and in the defensive position, ready. If the black and white cat winced at a particularly bad snare, this startled the intimidator cat and made him jump a bit. Every now and then the intimidator cat would become quiet and look away as though distracted, but never moved off. This went on for at least 10 minutes. Every now and then he would let out a terrible scream. This bothered his throat I could tell. They wrestled twice. I saw fur flying.

Then on the second wrestling where they tumbled together, the bad one finally got tired and walked away. The black and white one just watched it go. Then when it was gone, it turned around and deliberately looked at me watching him in the window. He stared. It was a supernatural sign to me of what is like to stand against demonic intimidation.

It was a sign to me that the black and white cat did not open its mouth to fight back, rather just stood and defended his position. He was not about to leave our yard. It was a sign of treating the bigger cat with respect but also standing firm.

HOW TO ENGAGE IN WARFARE WITH PRINCIPALITIES: STAND

Eph 6:10-18 NKJV

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to STAND against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withSTAND in the evil day, and having done all, to STAND.   STAND therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints -