M.R. Wells - The Cat Lovers Devotional

The
Cat Lovers
Devotional

M.R. Wells
Connie Fleishauer
Dottie P. Adams

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE, OREGON

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Verses marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189 USA. All rights reserved.

Verses marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked ( NI r V ) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Readers Version. NIV. Copyright 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Verses marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Published in association with the literary agency of Mark Sweeney & Associates, Bonita Springs, FL 34135.

Cover by Left Coast Design, Portland, Oregon

Cover photo iStockphoto / bigworld

The information shared by the authors is from their personal experience and should not be considered professional advice. Readers should consult their own cat care professionals regarding issues related to the health, safety, grooming, and training of their pets.

THE CAT LOVERS DEVOTIONAL

Copyright 2011 by M.R. Wells, Connie Fleishauer, and Dottie P. Adams
Published by Harvest House Publishers
Eugene, Oregon 97402
www.harvesthousepublishers.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Wells, M. R. (Marion R.), 1948

The cat lovers devotional / M.R. Wells, Connie Fleishauer, and Dottie Adams.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-0-7369-2881-6 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-0-7369-4153-2 (eBook)

1. Cat ownersPrayers and devotions. 2. CatsReligious aspectsChristianity. I. Fleishauer, Connie. II. Adams, Dottie P., 1944- III. Title.

BV4596.A54W44 2011

242dc22

2010049771

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Printed in the United States of America

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 / VP-NI / 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

To all those who help purr-fect us in love:

Our beloved families and friends,
our treasured kitties, and our infinitely
patient, caring, and forgiving God.

We write books because You write on our hearts.

Though there are times when we have been catlike and crawled off by ourselves to write, we never could have done this book alone. Thanks to all who let us share their stories on these pages. Thanks to all who lifted us up in prayer. Thanks to Mark and Janet Sweeney, our agents and friends, who help our book dreams come true. Special thanks to Nicole Overbey, DVM, the marvelous vet who took time to vet our book and share her feedback with us. And heartfelt thanks to our awesome team at Harvest House Publishers. You are simply the best!

Most of all, eternal thanks and praise to our marvelous, matchless Creator Godwho made cats for us and purr-fects us in love for Himself.

Contents

Part I
Nestling in Gods Arms

Midnights Not-So-Rapid Transit
Relationships Take Time

Perrys Good Shepherd
Be a Shepherd for God

Undying Love
BeOtherly

For the Love of a Cat
Love Lets Go

Lovin Troubles
Love Turns Trouble into Blessing

Freeing Tigger
Let Gods Love Liberate You

A Cat for All Seasons
Roles Change, but Our Place in Gods Heart Doesnt

The Pruning of Cats and People
Bald Will Be Beautiful

Mew Tube
When Life Makes No Sense, Hanging onto God Does

The Cat That Knocked on Hearts
Reach Out and Love

The Final Lap
Seek God

The Ultimate Fixer
Love Heals

Chickadee in Charge
God Builds Our Trust

Wild or Wooed?
Love Transforms

Cattitude Adjustment
Love Is Patient

Part II
Climbing up Gods Path

You Can Lead a Cat to Water But
Gods Spirit Gives Life

A Bag of Kitties and a Duffel Bag of Hope
Love Uplifts

Older than the Hills
Believe God, Not Your Mirror

Catch of the Day
God Sets Us Free

Gerti Goes to the Gophers
Follow Gods Call

Cat Wars
Conflicts Have Unintended Casualties

Spooky KOd
Stop and Smell the Blessings

Hiding under the Covers
Keep On Keeping On

A Little Cat Shall Lead Them
Are You Eager to Give?

Bo Slays His Giants
Enter into Gods Promises

Tiny Lioness
Be a Square Peg for God

Allergic to Life
Hows Your Spiritual Immune System?

The Copycat Blues
Watch Out What Rubs Off

Jekyll or Hyde?
Heed Gods Spirit

When Three Legs Are Better than Four
Press On and Trust God

Part III
Basking in Gods Comfort

Moochs Loneliest Number
Have Faith in Gods Presence

How Cats Drop Anchor
God Steadies Us

The Eyes Have It
Look to the Lord

Liam on Hold
God Is with Us in Limbo

Cat Replacement Therapy
God Leads Us Through Loss

Midnights Vanishing Act
God Restores

Full House
God Made Us for Each Other

A Time to Die
God Holds Us in His Hands

The Unexpected Hug
God Lifts Us Up

Part IV
Lapping up Gods Wisdom

Chasing Shadows
God Is Our Reality Check

The Cat Fight That Wasnt
Choose Peace

Chickees Lost Tail
Temptation Bites

Lessons from a Trilingual Cat
Communicate Love

Saving Mr. Sinj
Gods Ways Arent Ours

And He Lived to Meow Again
Dont Miss Gods Grace

Purr-fect Freedom
God Frees Us to Be His

Lost Next Door
Let God Lead You Home

Queenie for a Day
Is Your Royalty Outward or Inward?

A Creature Called Dog
Fear Blocks Friendship

See Sammy Run
Choose Healing

Simba Tops It Off
Only God Can Fill Us Up

Part V
Hiding in Gods Protection

Running Scared
Seek Refuge in God

Why a Squeaky Cat Didnt Get the Grease
Is Your Spiritual Manhole Cover in Place?

All Quiet on the Snowy Front
Hows Your Spiritual Hearing?

You Dont Need a Fleece to See the Fleas
Watch for Signs of Trouble

The Cat That Faxed
Beware Who You Dial

Once an Alley Cat...
We Need God to Break Strongholds

Howl, Moochie, Howl
Guard Your Spiritual Territory

Everetts Watch Cat
God Is Our Protector

Foreword
How Cats Help Purr-fect Us

S ome months ago a friend shared a story about an encounter with a cat that I will never forget. Shed never seen the starving stray before, but she went to get it a bowl of milk. When she returned, the tiny cat was attempting to nurse on itself. God whispered to my friends heart, Thats what you do when you try to meet your own needs all by yourself instead of coming to Me.