By Belle the Missionary Dog
Mommy – Cheryle M. Touchton - The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Rom 12:1 KJV
All this talk about living sacrifices makes me nervous. Mommy went to church on Sunday at Southside Baptist and ever since, she’s been talking about presenting her body as a living sacrifice. Apparently, Pastor Gary Webber said living sacrifices try to wiggle off the altar. All I’ve got to say about that is, “Of course they do!” I know those Bible stories about sacrificial lambs, ropes, knives, and fire. I am a Shetland Sheep Dog. If people will sacrifice sheep, what is to keep them from sacrificing a sheep dog?
Ever since Sunday, Mommy has been saying that she shouldn’t try to wiggle off the altar. She said it Sunday night when she wanted to get home sooner and knew God was leading her to take her time and minister along the way. She said it when she wanted to eat at a restaurant and knew she had perfectly good, healthy, and low calorie food in the camper. She said it again when she wanted to go to bed and still had writing to do. When I wanted her to stop working and take me for a walk, she told me to present myself as a living sacrifice. I’m sorry but if anyone is planning on doing to me what they did to those cute little lambs in the Bible, I plan to try to wiggle off that altar.
On Monday morning, Mommy and I led someone to Jesus who needed Jesus a lot. If we had rushed home to see Daddy, we would not have been there. When this sad woman prayed to receive Jesus, her face changed right in front of me. I thought about the Bible verse that talks about mourning turning into dancing. Like always, I guess the Bible is right. Mommy sacrificing what she wants to do and following what God told her to do put Mommy in exactly the right place for that woman. The funny thing is that after Mommy helped that woman meet Jesus, she was happier than she probably would have been if she had rushed home to Daddy. Following God was good for Mommy and the person Mommy helped.
This living sacrifice thing might not be as bad as it sounds. On Sunday, I wanted to go with Mommy into the church but when I saw her turn on the generator and air conditioner, I knew I was staying in Hallelujah. Maybe waiting patiently was me presenting my body as a living sacrifice. When I do the right thing, I feel better even if it isn’t want I want to do at the time. I’d probably still try to wiggle off the altar if I saw knives, ropes, and matches but maybe one day, I’ll understand that even that would be worth it if it was what God required of me.
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By Belle the Missionary Dog
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady
God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. 1 Cor 1:9NIV
Everything was fine until Saturday morning when Mommy and I went outside to clean Hallelujah. Mommy cranked the engine, pushed the button to turn the generator on and nothing happened. She pushed it again…and again…and again. Mommy always says that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Why did she keep pushing that button?
When she told Daddy about the problem, he asked, “Did you try cranking the engine first?” I wish you could have seen Mommy’s look. Even I knew to crank the engine when the generator had been sitting for a while.
“I’m just making sure,” Daddy muttered. “What happens when you push the button?”
“Nothing,” Mommy said.
“What do you mean nothing?” Daddy asked.
“I mean nothing,” Mommy said. Now they were making me insane.
“The engine doesn’t turn over?”
“Bob,” Mommy said. “Nothing happens!” Mommy always says Daddy doesn’t like surprises. Couldn’t she tell he was just surprised?
Daddy went outside and pushed the button. “It didn’t crank,” he announced. Mommy got that look again.
Next, he climbed under Halleluiah. “It’s not cranking from the button on the generator either,” he reported.
That was when Mommy said the horrible words, “If I don’t have a generator, Belle can’t go.”
“Why?” Daddy said and I thought in unison.
“If I have to go inside somewhere, I can’t leave her in the camper without air conditioning,” Mommy explained. Mommy always says you are supposed to speak in faith. Why was she even saying I might not get to go?
In our house, when God tells us to do something, we do it. Mommy always says if we know what God wants us to do and have a problem, we pray, ask people for help, continue doing the work in front of us, and wait on God to do the rest. For the next three days, Mommy and Daddy worked hard. They asked for prayer, continued getting ready for the trip, and looked for someone to fix the generator. God is faithful and it looked like they were doing the footwork so I waited.
On Monday, Mommy and Daddy put Hal in the generator hospital. Mommy and her friend, Cathy Tubbs went evangelizing and led two people to Jesus. Mommy always says that when you are worried about something, to sow seeds of faith. It seemed like she was doing that so I kept waiting on the Lord.
We were supposed to leave on Tuesday and on Tuesday morning, Hal still wasn’t ready. Mommy always says God is never late but He is seldom early. We didn’t have to be in North Carolina until Thursday night so it didn’t look to me like God was late yet. I wasn’t worried.
Finally, Tuesday afternoon, they got the generator working. Yes, I was happy but I knew it all along. It cost $600 but Mommy always says God funds what he calls us to do so I knew God was going to send the money to pay for that generator repair.
Mommy and Daddy got Hallelujah packed. They even remembered my treats. We left on Wednesday and drove all day. Tomorrow is Thursday and we are only 3 hours from where we have to be tomorrow night. Mommy always says that if you ask God for knowledge of his will and the power to carry it out, He will answer your prayer. It looks to me like God did just that. Would someone please tell my Mommy and Daddy to listen to what Mommy always says? If they did, I think they would get more sleep.
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By Belle the Missionary Dog
Mommy - Cheryle M. Touchton - The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady
Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Luke 8:6 NIV I get it – they are red rocks. People like to look at them. I understand that they are pretty. I just don’t think they are very useful. Where is the grass? In fact, where is the dirt? My Mommy and I have been in Sedona, Arizona for a week. After we look at all of those rocks, what are we supposed to do with them?
First, where am I supposed potty? For my entire life, Mommy has taught me to potty on something soft – grass, dirt, and even snow. Now, I’m supposed to use rocks? I registered a similar complaint when we stayed in downtown Philadelphia and I was supposed to use concrete. I want to go on record stating the rocks are even worse than concrete.
Rocks are sharp. They hurt my feet. Mommy wears shoes so maybe she doesn’t know how they hurt my feet.
Rocks are uneven. How am I supposed to walk on them? Mommy wears shoes and even she has trouble walking on them. There are many places to hike in America. Why are we hiking here?
Rocks are hot. In fact, Arizona is hot. I used to live here and I remember how hot Arizona is. It is 100 degrees here. Doesn’t Mommy realize how hot those rocks are? Again – she is wearing shoes.
Finally, how does anyone grow food here? There is no dirt. I take that back. There is a tiny patch of dirt here – poured over the rocks. Mommy won’t let me use that to potty because that tiny patch of imported dirt is the poor hotel owner’s attempt to grow something. It does not look like it is working to me.
I don’t think rocks are useful, even if they are red, but I guess I should stop whining about them. People in Sedona need to hear about Jesus even if they don’t want to. I’ve noticed that many people here are not as interested in Jesus as people are in other places. Maybe their hearts are like the rocks here. Knowing Jesus will make their hearts soft so I guess telling people about Jesus is useful, even in the middle of hot, sharp, uneven, hard red rocks.
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By Belle the Missionary Dog
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. KJV Rom 6:23 “I’m sure my dog is going to hell,” a man told my Mommy. She’d just told him about me, my writing, and how I help her in ministry. Then, Mommy asked if this man knew where he was going in the next life.
“I’m not sure,” he said, with a glint in his eye. “But I’m sure my dog is going to hell.”
“Maybe Belle needs to tell your dog about Jesus,” Mommy joked.
The man launched into a rant about everything his dog does wrong. That poor man! His dog wakes them up in the middle of the night to go outside. He chews things up, barks too much, and runs out the door when it is opened. Even I wouldn’t want to live with that dog.
That dog obviously hasn’t been taught to mind his mommy and daddy. I’ll be happy to talk to his dog about Jesus if they want me to but it isn’t bad things that send people to hell. Everyone does bad things. God wants to give everyone eternal life with Jesus. Saying no to Jesus sends people to hell.
I’ve met a lot of dogs who didn’t mind their mommy and daddy, but the dogs I’ve met are smart enough to know a good thing when they see it. Jesus is good! In fact, He is the best! Humans sometimes say no to Jesus but I think dogs are way too smart to do that.
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By Belle the Missionary Dog
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady
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| Broken Door Panal |
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
KJV Rom 8:28
Mommy hit a curb. Daddy said it was an optical illusion. I don’t know what that is, but I was in the front seat with Mommy when she hit the curb. I think what she drove over used to be a driveway. There were big trucks parked right behind that Taco Bell we tried to turn around in. I think Taco Bell got tired of trucks pulling into their parking lot so they built their side up to be a curb.
It was a big curb and when we hit bottom it went BANG. Then, as Mommy kept rolling over it, it screeched. At first, Mommy was calmer than me. The noise hurt my ears so I started barking.
“Shhh. It’s OK, Belle. We’re OK,” she soothed. “Calm down.” Mommy pulled over and opened the door.
I heard another crunch. A big piece of metal was sticking up from the running board and blocked the door. Mommy tried to bend it back but it didn’t work.
Then, she did something silly. She got out and left me inside. I didn’t like that so I started barking again. Mommy needed me but she ignored me. Sometimes, my mommy is hard to help.
It was bad. The hose we use for dumping nasty water was hanging behind Hallelujah like a tail. When Mommy put it back, she got yucky water all over her hands. The door panel and back bumper were hanging off. The running board was cracked. There were scratches under both sides. Mommy propped everything back on and drove slowly back to the campground we had just passed. She took a deep breath and called Daddy.
Poor Daddy. He gets upset just like me – only instead of barking, he asks Mommy questions faster then she can answer. I think Daddy calms himself down by trying to understand things. Mommy doesn’t always know the names of things on Hallelujah so she had trouble helping Daddy understand. Daddy was on an airplane and they made him turn his cell phone off before he could help us. I know my daddy so I know that was the longest plane ride of his life.
Mommy and Daddy talked later that night and sounded so sad. Mommy doesn’t like to make mistakes. When she makes mistakes, she gets discouraged. When she gets discouraged, she wants to give up and go home.
Daddy doesn’t like it when he can’t fix things for us. When we get in trouble far away, he gets scared.
Mommy and Daddy love God a lot and do their best to do what He says. I think sometimes they forget that God will use everything for good. Maybe they think they are supposed to be perfect and handle everything themselves. They may be smart but they are not as smart as God. He knows what He is doing. They are really good at fixing things but not as good as God. Mommy and Daddy only see what is right in front of them but God sees forever. Would someone tell my Mommy and Daddy that God knows what He is doing and will use all of this for good? Also, please join our prayer team and pray for Mommy and Daddy. I think they need it. Join our Prayer Team
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By Belle the Missionary Dog
Mommy - Cheryle M. Touchton - The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Cor 6:19-20 NIV
My mommy eats healthy. She has eaten this way for 30 years. She didn’t always eat like this but she does now. She says her body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and she wants to honor God by eating right. Before I was born, Mommy used to eat so much food that that it made her sick and she had to stay in bed. One day, she called out to God and she and God made a deal. Mommy turned her life and will over to God. She started eating healthy. God helped her stop overeating and made her well. The problem is, I didn’t make that deal.
On Sunday, Mommy and I went to the Big Shanty Festival in Kennesaw, Georgia. We were there to tell people about Jesus and even if I say so myself, I did my job just right. I let people pet me. When Mommy said to say Jesus, I barked. When Mommy said to show people how to take Jesus’ hand, I reached out my paw. I looked for people who looked like they needed attention from me and I gave it to them. 15 people prayed to receive Jesus and I helped with all of them. I’m happy about that.
What I’m not happy about is Mommy not letting me eat junk food. There was free junk food everywhere. People must not have wanted it because they dropped it on the ground. There were potato chips, ice cream, hamburgers, french fries, candy, and even dog treats. It was a doggie buffet and every time I tried to enjoy it, Mommy hollered and pulled on my leash. It is not fair.
Even Daddy eats junk food – especially when it is free. Mommy fusses at him too but he does what he wants. I tried doing what I wanted and Mommy wouldn’t let me. For some reason, Daddy gets to have free will but I don’t. Mommy says I can’t eat junk food because I get sick but I’ve seen Daddy not feeling too good if he eats popcorn late at night and he eats it anyway.
I’m a good dog. I mostly do everything Mommy says. I think Mommy was being unreasonable to expect me to pass all of that yummy food and not eat a bite. Would someone remind my mommy about free will?
I have to admit that when we got back to the camper, I was glad I didn’t have a tummy ache. Mommy was really glad because when I get sick, she has to clean it up. Mommy bought homemade doggy treats at the festival and she gave me some. That helped but I still can’t help dreaming about all of that free food.
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By Belle the Missionary Dog
Mommy – Cheryle M. Touchton, The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady
Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. John 4:35 KJV
Mommy and I have a big job. We tell people about Jesus. We get in Halleluiah the camper van. Next, we push the button on our orange cup and listen to it sing, “No Particular Place to Go.” Mommy prays and then we drive until we find someone who needs to hear about Jesus. Well, actually, Mommy drives and I bounce back and forth between the front and back seats.
We each have little jobs too. One of my jobs is to help Mommy when she backs up. I’ve never forgotten that Mommy backed into a gas pump, so I sit in the back window and bark if she is getting too close to something. I like to do things in order so I remind Mommy of what she is supposed to do next. I don’t like people coming into Halleluiah so if they try, I bark. I cuddle with Mommy, make her laugh, and love her no matter what. We take care of each other.
Mommy feeds me, rubs my tummy, and takes me on walks. Sometimes, she tries to tell me to behave but I don't get mad because I know she just doesn’t understand why I’m doing what I’m doing. For some reason she thinks she needs to clean up after me when I potty but that is just silly. The deer and bears make a lot bigger mess than I do.
When Mommy and I start talking about Jesus, we are all business. I sit beside Mommy until she tells me what to do. She tells people about Jesus and invites them to meet him. When she asks for help, I help. If she says Jesus, I bark. I show people how to take Jesus’ hand by giving them my paw. I can sit, lay, and get my tail. Mommy and I sing about Jesus together and I do my tricks at exactly the right time. My favorite song is “My Best Friend is Jesus” because I get to bark every time Mommy sings the word Jesus. When people pray and invite Jesus into their lives, I know to sit behind Mommy and not move a muscle. My favorite part is the glow that comes into people’s eyes just as they finish praying. Everyone needs Jesus even if they don’t know it yet. Our job is to help them figure it out.
Mommy and I have been doing this together for almost ten years. Every day, it seems like people get more eager to hear about Jesus. Every year, more people say yes to Jesus. The Bible says the harvest is ripe. I think that means that people are ready to meet Jesus and I believe it. In fact, I think the harvest is even riper than it was when Mommy and I first started doing this. Helping people meet Jesus is easy and so sweet. Mommy and I have the best job in the world.
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