Why Do I Need Shots To Get Ready For the Journey?

By Belle Touchton The Missionary Dog
Mommy: Cheryle M. Touchton - The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady


That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. Luke 12:47 NIV


Yes - I know we have to get ready but why do I have to get shots and a bath? Every year, as Mommy gets ready for our next missionary journey, she takes me to the vet. They poke on me, stick needles in me, and look places no one should look! Then they give me a bath and clip my long lovely toenails. Would someone please help me understand why I need shots to do my job as a missionary?

Mommy and Daddy are busy. Daddy is working on Halleluiah. The door was broken so Daddy put him in the camper hospital. We live in Pennsylvania now so some of Hal’s pipes froze and Daddy had to get that fixed. Hal needed an oil change, water in all his tanks, and two different kinds of gas. Poor Halleluiah! They poked on him as much as they poked on me. He also got a bath. Is he is whining too?

Mommy went to something called a Commissioning. It must be good because she was excited. I’m a missionary too. Why doesn’t someone commission me? Aren’t I important?

Mommy is washing clothes, packing, shopping, praying, and writing. She is also getting her hair and nails done. I’m not really sure how that helps either but it seems to make her feel better. Personally, I think it is a waste of time and money but no one has asked my opinion.

Since Mommy was ignoring me, I decided to write this story. We’re leaving on Thursday. We’ll be gone 40 days. We’re heading south and then out west. Daddy will be with us for 5 days and on Easter Sunday. He’ll fly back to State College. We probably won’t see Daddy again until we get back home. I’m worried about him because he doesn’t have many friends there but he does have work, church, and his Life Group. Oh – and I guess I forgot about God – Daddy has God. Now that I think about, I have God too. Maybe I should trust God and quite whining about everything.

Mommy and the Bible say that when we know what we are supposed to do, we have to get ready and then do it. Mommy says God wants us to go on this journey and that my shots are part of getting ready. Getting ready is a lot of work and sometimes it hurts but I trust Mommy and God. When that doctor shoved that nasty needle into me, I didn’t even cry. I still don’t understand why I need shots but Mommy and God know what’s best.

We need help getting ready for this journey to share Jesus with America. We need prayers and Mommy says we still need some money. Would you help us by praying or sending money?

Donate

Thanks – I’ll be looking for you on the missionary road.


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Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information or to schedule a speaker for an event, call Gail Golden at 904 316-5462. Money is ministry tool that enables us to continue this work. If this story helped or inspired you or you feel called to join forces with The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady and Belle, The Missionary Dog as they travel the missionary road, leading people to Christ, you can donate at:

Donate

Copyright: Pocket Full of Change Ministries

My Mommy Is A Tattletale

By Belle Touchton - The Missionary Dog
Mommy - Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place. NIV

I didn't feel good.I tried to tell Mommy but she was too excited about visiting her friend Julie to pay attention. The winding steep road to Mercer Island in Washington didn’t do much good for my ailing tummy.

“Belle, this is a nice house. Mind Mommy!” she said as we drove up. As if I didn’t mind her most of the time.

This was a big house. When we got there, Mommy’s friend said, “Welcome to my palace.” It was a palace. There were pictures of Jesus everywhere so I liked it right away. Looking out at the water reminded me of our old home, Sanctuary, in Jacksonville, Florida. It was also peaceful like my Sanctuary. I could see why Mommy wanted me to mind. Everywhere, there were things I could play with if Mommy would let me. I knew she wasn’t going to let me so I didn’t even try.

What I didn’t like was that Mommy locked me in the laundry room. I didn’t understand why she kept me on a leash when we walked around the house. We don't use leashes inside. I don’t really mind my leash because it keeps me close to Mommy so I relaxed. I was relieved when she brought in my doggie pen. Mommy says dogs are cave animals. I don’t know what that means but I like my pen when Mommy leaves me alone. Mommy and Julie left me alone on Sunday. They went to church and to tell people about Jesus. I stayed in my pen without even complaining. Overall, I thought I was a pretty good sport.

Over Saturday and Sunday, my tummy got worse. I stopped eating to try to get it better but it didn’t help. I don't think Mommy noticed until it was too late. On Monday, my tummy won. I had an "accident" on the floor and it should have been obvious to Mommy that I was sick.

“Belle, what have you done to this beautiful carpet?” She sounded like she cared more about the carpet than me. I hung my head in shame. I know better but I couldn’t help it.

Mommy started cleaning, but I’d made a big mess. I couldn’t believe it when she said, “Out Blank (I can’t use the word she said) Spot.”

"Belle, don't look so shocked. I wasn't using a bad word. I was quoting a line from Hamlet’s Macbeth"

I still didn’t think it was very nice. She put her face on the carpet. Was she praying?

“Belle,” she scolded. “Why didn’t you come get me?”

I wondered why she didn’t pay more attention to me. She should have figured out I wasn’t feeling good.

“We have to tell Julie,” Mommy said. “It’s the right thing to do.”

I didn’t want Julie to know. She’d only had one dog in her entire life and here I was giving all dogs a bad name. Now another dog would probably never get to visit this beautiful peaceful palace and it would be all my fault. She’d probably never invite me back again.

“Belle, I don’t want to tell her either but it is the right thing to do. We're supposed to always tell the truth.”

She put me in my pen, marched out, and told Julie about the mess I had made. How could Mommy be such a tattletale?

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Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information or to schedule a speaker for an event, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Gail Golden at 904 316-5462.

This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road as a traveling missionary, send your tax deductible contribution to Pocket Full of Change Ministries, POB 51205, Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32240.

© Pocket Full of Change Ministries

Discrimination Is Wrong

By Belle Touchton – The Missionary Dog
Mommy - Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:28-29 NIV


OK – I get it that some places don’t allow dogs. Many dogs are not as polite, well trained, or careful as I am and they spoil it for the rest of us. And yes – I’ll admit that dogs shed more than humans so I can understand people not wanting dog hair around. Some dogs even have disgusting fleas but I certainly don’t. Besides, some people have fleas.

My complaint is about parks that allow other animals to roam freely but they put restrictions on dogs. We went to Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the only place I was allowed was on concrete. I couldn’t walk on a trail, get in the grass, and I certainly wasn’t allowed inside their buildings. I also had to be on a leash at all times. What is their problem with dogs?

While I was there, I saw prairie dogs running all over the grass. They laughed at me standing on the pavement while they got to stand on top of their hills. The buffalo make a much bigger mess than I do and their mommy wasn’t near as careful about cleaning up after them as my Mommy is. Other places make horses stay inside a pen but not this park. Theodore Roosevelt National Park allows horses to run free anywhere they please. The deer and the elk run free across the trails and leave little presents for the people to step in. No one even considered trying to keep the birds on a leash. I didn’t want to believe it but it is true. That park discriminates against dogs.

Discrimination is wrong. I know it is because the Bible says so. When Mommy reads Galatians 3:28-29, I think to myself – there is no dog nor cat, buffalo nor elk, deer nor bird, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. For people, there are laws against discrimination, so why aren’t there laws for dogs?

It isn’t fair but Mommy says life isn’t always fair and I just have to accept it if I want to find any peace. The Bible also says I’m supposed to forgive and not judge. I guess I’d better listen and forgive the park or my anger will ruin trips with Mommy. That Bible sure is smart.

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Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information or to schedule a speaker for an event, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Gail Golden at 904 316-5462.

This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road as a traveling missionary, send your tax deductible contribution to Pocket Full of Change Ministries, POB 51205, Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32240.

© Pocket Full of Change Ministries

My Mommy Is a Duck

"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "Tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. Matt 14:28-30 NIV


Daddy is an eagle and Mommy is a duck. Daddy loves eagles. They're all over his desk and hanging on his walls. He used to write a column called “The Eagles Nest.” He talks about soaring and soars through his life. He never gets lost. He doesn't lose anything and he can open a cereal box just the right way. Things are easy for Daddy.

Mommy wishes she were an eagle. Mommy doesn't always like it when Daddy tries to help her. He won’t let her open cereal boxes because if she does, they won't close back. He goes along behind her closing things and if she gives directions, he takes the map and checks it for himself.

Things were extra bad in Washington. Mommy was tired and woried because I was sick. She was working long hours and I was too sick to help her. In fact, she spent a lot of extra time cleaning up after me. When Mommy gets tired, she forgets things like closing cabinets, drawers, or zipping her purse. What that means is that when she drives, our van, Halleluiah, throws things at me. It also means that things fall out of her purse. That drives Daddy crazy.

“Cheryle,” he said. “Zip your purse.”

“Who do you think tells me to zip my purse when you aren’t here?”

“I don’t know, but zip your purse.”


A few minutes later, Daddy said, “Did you close that cabinet?”


“Bob,” Mommy said as she closed the cabinet. “Leave me alone.”


“But I’m just trying to help,” he said. “Remember that service is my spiritual gift. What am I supposed to do when I notice things?” Poor Daddy. I think she hurt his feelings.

“When you remind me about everything, I feel bad,” Mommy said.

Poor Mommy. Everything Daddy said was right. Her purse was open and so was the cabinet.

I think Mommy and Daddy are both smart. They both can empty the holding tanks on Halleluiah but I have to admit that when Daddy does it, it looks easier. It makes me tired to watch Mommy do it but she gets it done. Mommy gets lost but always finds her way back. She says she doesn’t have a sense of direction but it seems like it is backwards. Daddy goes somewhere once and never forgets how to get back. Maybe Mommy wishes she were more like Daddy.

I think Mommy is fine the way she is. I just think she is a duck married to an eagle. She waddles through life, having fun, looking calm, but always paddling under the water. Ducks can fly too but it looks harder. When Mommy quacks, people quack back and some even follow her. Personally, I like ducks a lot. I love Mommy. I don’t even get mad when she leaves cabinets open and things fall on me. If she would just accept the fact that she is a duck, I don’t think she’d mind letting the eagle help.

It doesn't matter if they waddle or soar, when Mommy and Daddy keep their eyes on Jesus, they both walk on water. When God gives them a job, He makes them able to get it done. Mommy and Daddy work hard to say yes to God and they help each other say yes to Him. They also love each other and both love me. Mommy is the wind beneath Daddy’s wings and Daddy is the mud beneath Mommy’s webbed feet.


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Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information or to schedule a speaker for an event, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Gail Golden at 904 316-5462.

This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road as a traveling missionary, send your tax deductible contribution to Pocket Full of Change Ministries, POB 51205, Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32240.

© Pocket Full of Change Ministries