Lessons for Living From God and Mosie, Psalm 119 33-40

This morning, I was attempting to have some quiet time, but kept getting disrupted by the dog as she was running 100 miles an hour around the house tormenting the cat. I tried settling her down many times, but to no avail. So then I tried catching her to put her in her cage...but I couldn't catch her, which of course made me even more furious.

What infuriates me the most during these circumstances, is you know that the dog knows that she's doing wrong, but she won't stop, nor will she obey our commands to come to us. So, I called Denny to come help. By the time we caught her, I was so furious that I picked up our precious little phoo phoo dog, by the hair and gave her a giant toss out the front door in the pouring down rain.

I was pondering the morning happenings, as I continued getting ready for work, and I realized once again, how much I HATE disobedience. I have a very low tolerance for it amongst our kids and certainly with the dog. The times I can think of when I've been the most angry with our kids is the times when they have shown blatant disobedience. I can't stand it. Don't they know that we want the best for them, and the things that we ask them to do, though they may not like it, are ultimately for their good?

Then I thought of the two additional things that God has asked me to do here in the past couple of weeks, and I still haven't done them. I don't feel like I'm being disobedient, for I intend on doing what he asked...however, when I ask Maren to pick her stuff up off of the dining room table, and three days later it's still there, and she says, "I meant to do it, I just keep forgetting..." I see that as disobedience. So, Is delayed obedience disobedience? I believe it is.

Our God is patient with us, and He knows our heart. He knows there are times when we're seeking confirmation from Him, before we act...and He allows that. However, there are other times when He knows that we KNOW what He has asked us to do, and we just haven't done it yet...even though we "mean" to, we just haven't gotten around to it, and I'm guessing that in those times...delayed obedience is disobedience.

So, I guess through that stupid dog, God gave me a "lesson for living" this morning, as Psalm 119:33 refers to. My prayer is that He'll continue to give me lessons for living so I can stay on course. That He'll give me insight so I can do what He tells me, and that my whole life will be one long obedient response (I love that). Here's Psalm 119:33-40...

33-40 God, teach me lessons for living so I can stay the course. Give me insight so I can do what you tell me— my whole life one long, obedient response.

Guide me down the road of your commandments; I love traveling this freeway! Give me a bent for your words of wisdom, and not for piling up loot. Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets, invigorate me on the pilgrim way. Affirm your promises to me—promises made to all who fear you. Deflect the harsh words of my critics—but what you say is always so good. See how hungry I am for your counsel; preserve my life through your righteous ways!