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What my terrier taught me about God

The great theologian A.W. Tozer said : The most important thing about you is what you believe about God. Seeing Him as He really is will influence every thought we think and every action we take. Last spring, a persistent blazing-red cardinal tried to make a nest in our dining room.

The great theologian A.W. Tozer said : The most important thing about you is what you believe about God. Seeing Him as He really is will influence every thought we think and every action we take. Last spring, a persistent blazing-red cardinal tried to make a nest in our dining room.

One wall is high windows and every morning around  7:30, this cardinal attempted to fly through the glass. He would bang and bang and bang into it multiple times with enough energy to give himself a concussion and make enough racket to infuriate our West Highland terrier Wallace. Our dog's main job besides nesting in our laps is to keep our domain safe from all danger, including marauding cardinals.
     So every morning, Wallace barks furiously and then runs out the doggie door to run around the yard looking for the cardinal. This, of course, wakes up the neighbors. So I go outside to quiet him down.  Wallace finally chases him away but a few minutes later the cardinal is back. We endure several rounds of this every morning and its getting OLD!
     One Saturday morning, my full length red coat was lying on a kitchen chair by the back door. It was chilly so I grabbed it and put it on as I ran out to corral Wallace  and shush the cardinal. The cardinal took one look at me in my red coat and flew away. And he did not return that morning. The same thing happened the next day and the next until the cardinal decided to call it quits.
     We have decided that the cardinal thinks I'm a bigger cardinal than he is.
And that reality changed him. Big things get our attention too. If we are going to trust God, we need a God big enough and powerful enough to make a big difference in the world, and we have One, but some of us don't know it. If you struggle to see God as He really is–a Big God–read Isaiah 40. And if you want to see the Resurrected Jesus as He really is, read Revelation 1:12-18. Ask Him to reveal His majesty and power to you, because, remember, The most important thing about you is what you believe about God.  
 

Dr. Edwards is Assistant Professor of Christian Education (Specialization: Women's Studies) at Dallas Theological Seminary and holds degrees from Trinity University, DTS, and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She is the author of New Doors in Ministry to Women, A Fresh Model for Transforming Your Church, Campus, or Mission Field and Women's Retreats, A Creative Planning Guide. She has 30 years experience in Bible teaching, directing women's ministry, retreat and conference speaking, training teams and teachers, and writing curriculum. Married to David for 34 years, she especially enjoys extended family gatherings and romping with her four grandchildren.