The Cahill's

Question: Why is it that I can only get Texans to go sledding with me?

What a week! What an education! Snow is wonderful! (I can’t get my smileys to work or there would be a big one right here)

Earlier this week God lovingly allowed our first sled run to be shut down – He had a better place in mind for us, but while we had the one we weren’t motivated to look for anything else. The first morning on the new run proved very interesting. A few of the kitchen girls had come out to sled with us due to some persuasive enthusiasm during service hour the previous day. An audience from the dining hall had gathered to watch our suicidal attempts at sledding into the gully. The 3 kitchen girls from Texas went down several times and enjoyed it but I couldn’t get anyone else to go, so I proceeded to sled down again and again – I came out to have fun, whether or not anyone else joined me. Two of the Williams tried it out – hooray Virginia – but still no other takers. Stacie had built another run and we proceeded to play on it too. Finally it was too much to resist and the observers became participators!

I thought about Christianity; to some people it looks kind of risky, and what would others think if you messed up!? All my talking couldn’t get those watching to join me, it was my example, my joy in what I was doing that caused them to want to try it too. Live your life in the joy of the Lord; make it something that people would desire.

I was reading Matthew 21 this evening and started thinking about the part where Jesus tells His disciples to go and get a donkey and it’s colt out of some village. What was Jesus taking? This donkey could have been someone’s transportation, or even livelihood! And the colt, that represented the future of the owner, Jesus did well to give instruction on what to do if anyone tries to stop them; say only that the Lord has need of it. Jesus gets the donkey and in the ensuing ride gets all the glory, none goes to the owner or even the donkey. Am I willing to give up my life and future when the Lord says He has need of it?

Earlier today I was talking with someone about my thoughts and plans and how the Lord might change that. Can I give up my hopes and the “glory” of a foreign mission field to serve wherever he calls, maybe out of a nice little home here in the states? The guy with the donkey could have thought, “wait, isn’t raising my donkeys your will? I thought I was abiding in your call, why are you taking this away from me?”

It reminds me of George Muller, he was called to witness to the Jewish people. He studied the language, learned the type of apologetics he would need and had practiced preaching to them while he completed his training in London, George was ready to ship out to the Middle East. But there in London God showed him another need, the orphaned children right there in his own country. Then God told Muller, give me your life and future, I have need of it. God gave him a helpmeet and together they embarked on God’s mission, ultimately helping over 6,000 kids with an incredible faith that brought much glory to God.

So yes my friend, though I am walking in the steps of a calling to Russia, if God tells me He has need of my life and future I am willing to abandon that pursuit and let Him use me for His glory. I can do it with joy and no regrets.

Do you like the new picture? This face greets me every time I step out the door. I have a dog, loyal as all get out and as worthy a companion as I could ever ask for.

Always eager to see me I have seen her drop the game she’s playing with neighbor kids and come running as she hears our car coming up the road.

Early every morning she jumps up from her warm bed to accompany me on a several mile jog.

Her attitudes change to suit mine; always happy and ready for a game, she will just as soon calm it down and sit quietly if I’m sad or depressed.

She defers to me and quickly obeys any command, attentive not only to my voice but also to my hand and body language.

Respectful of my authority she will not violate my space without permission and is ready to meet me on whatever level I am on; once as I lay on the porch after a set of crunches my dog got down on her belly and scooted up to me and started licking my face while I reached up to rub her ears.

One of her greatest traits is her devotion to her calling – retrieving. She is never without a tennis ball, stick, or some item to be thrown and brought back. Again and again she will run at top speed to recapture what you have released, going until she can hardly walk – she gives definition to the word “doggedly.” She gives her all – she challenges me to do the same.