Zebras are classified as horses - not exotic animals. Who knew? So you can get your own striped buddy if you've got $25,000 to spare. Or hey, you can get a half price bargain if you're willing to train your own zebra.
Just don't plan on riding it anytime soon.... like within a few years. That's the intriguing recent news story about Shea Inman of Virginia (The Roanoke Times, byline Stephanie Klein-Davis). Apparently zebras have the horsey version of ADHD -- short attention spans.
Shea reportedly works with her zebra "until he does what she asks of him. Once he has followed instructions, they are done for the day." Maybe it's the weird way I think in patterns and comparisons, but it really seems that there's a pretty good parable here about our relationship with Father God ----
God tells us quite clearly in His Word what is right.
God tells us quite clearly in His Word what is wrong.
God tells us quite clearly in His Word that
WE have to make the choice.....
and that OUR wrong choice leads to DEATH.
See Deuteronomy 30:19.
God tells us quite clearly and OFTEN in His Word how much He loves us --
even when we sin.
But we're like zebras easily distracting by flitting birds and distant airplanes ---
often even forgetting God is THERE, much less obeying Him.
And so, like with Shea and her zebra,
when we try to live without His Word. Without Jesus.
2nd Peter 3:8. First Timothy 2:4. And of course John 3:16.
drinking and sex and drugs and TV immersion and Internet addictions and......
Though we act as self-focused zebras, God in love keeps giving us little lessons,
sometimes downright trials (though NEVER temptations
to draw us back to TRUST Him. Like zebras needing to trust the love of their Owner.
God's WARNING. Deuteronomy 30:19.Just don't plan on riding it anytime soon.... like within a few years. That's the intriguing recent news story about Shea Inman of Virginia (The Roanoke Times, byline Stephanie Klein-Davis). Apparently zebras have the horsey version of ADHD -- short attention spans.
Shea reportedly works with her zebra "until he does what she asks of him. Once he has followed instructions, they are done for the day." Maybe it's the weird way I think in patterns and comparisons, but it really seems that there's a pretty good parable here about our relationship with Father God ----
God tells us quite clearly in His Word what is right.
God tells us quite clearly in His Word what is wrong.
God tells us quite clearly in His Word that
WE have to make the choice.....
and that OUR wrong choice leads to DEATH.
See Deuteronomy 30:19.
God tells us quite clearly and OFTEN in His Word how much He loves us --
even when we sin.
But we're like zebras easily distracting by flitting birds and distant airplanes ---
often even forgetting God is THERE, much less obeying Him.
And so, like with Shea and her zebra,
God gently gives us lessons over and over.
And He kindly gives us rest times between the lessons.
But He NEVER LETS UP.
He loves us too much to let us choose death without repeatedly warning us what we are doingwhen we try to live without His Word. Without Jesus.
2nd Peter 3:8. First Timothy 2:4. And of course John 3:16.
God yearns for ALL PERSONS to be saved,
even when we're stubborn or SELF-focused as zebras.
Even when we insist on our own way,
distracted by self-ish food choices
(how we hate the word "gluttony") --- and
shopping choices (how we hate the word "shopaholic") anddrinking and sex and drugs and TV immersion and Internet addictions and......
Though we act as self-focused zebras, God in love keeps giving us little lessons,
sometimes downright trials (though NEVER temptations
to draw us back to TRUST Him. Like zebras needing to trust the love of their Owner.
(God is speaking): "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that
I have set before you life and death,
blessing and cursing;
therefore choose life,
that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God,
that you may obey His voice, and
that you may cling to Him, for
He is your life and the length of your days;
and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." -- A PROMISE OF LIFE also
to GENTILES who God has GRAFTED IN to His People....
Romans 11:11 and on.PRAYER
LORD God, help me to NOT be as distracted as a zebra.
Help me to focus on you. To not RUN AWAY from you like an untamed animal,
but to draw near to You.... James 4:7 and 8. LORD God, I DO draw near to You. With love.
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