WW Continues

Candi is back with another great teaching lesson. Sounds like soooo much fun having a dog. I think maybe we’ll….. no , never. Like my good friend Johnny B says, “ Not going to happen!”  Any way Candi and Wayne are having fun.

The Continuing Story of WW

Wild Winston is drawn, as if by magnetic force, to ingest harmful things. Sticks, mulch, grass, plants, toilet paper, paper towels, washcloths, copy paper, envelopes, the stuffing inside of toys, shoes, socks, a wool dryer ball, the wood of a plant stand.These are a few of his favorite things.😊

That plastic bookmark he chowed down on was quite the delicacy.

I was hoping that old saying, Garbage In, Garbage Out, would hold true.

Winston had symptoms of intestinal distress. We took him to his favorite person (wink, wink) his vet, Dr. Assad. I waited with bated breath, fearing we would hear those dreaded words-“bowel obstruction.” Fortunately, this was not the case.

Why is it the Winston is drawn to things he should not be, justlike a moth to a flame?

His PETPAL, delicious dog treats, praise, and discipline are techniques designed to modify his behavior.

Winston’s struggle is real. He wants what he wants, despite the consequences.

Our battle against our flesh is equally as real.

The apostle Paul speaks of this in Gal. 5:16. “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.

The implementation of behavior modification techniques will never have the lasting effect that Holy Spirit powered transformation will.

Romans 12:1-2 states, “Therefore, I urge you brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world  but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-His good, and pleasing and perfect will.”

How are we to be transformed? By daily laying aside our own desires and choosing to live a God-centered life. By refusing to conform to this world’s value system. By allowing the Holy Spirit to do the work in us that only He can do.

When we faithfully, relentlessly and persistently apply God’s Word to our negative thoughts and behaviors through Scripture reading, meditation, memorization, and prayer, the Spirit replaces sinful patterns with godly ones. God’s Word shapes our responses and grows us in Christlikeness.

When you find yourself battling those sins that ensnare you, fight them with God’s Word.

Discouraged? Philippians 1:6

Angry? James 1:19-26

Feel like a failure? Joshua 1:8-9

Chained to your addictions? I Corinthians 10:13

Worrywart? Philippians 4:6-7

Prone to retaliation? Luke 6:27-28

Fearful? Psalm 91:10-11

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”  2 Corinthians 10:5

Prepare to fight your battles by taking up your weapon, the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.  On guard dear brothers and sisters!!!

Make it a Mission Monday! God is good…