Saturday, September 26, 2015

When Do We Get Our Nap?

Pocket Full of Quarters Journey 2015
Shiloh’s Shenanigans - When Do We Get Our Nap


Written In Banning, California
By Shiloh The Shepherd’s Sheep Dog
Mommy - Cheryle M. Touchton


Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:22

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:30


My mommy wears people and animals out, including me. People like Mommy to visit but they are usually headed down for a nap as soon as we walk out the door. Even the children and dogs nap when we leave. While they are napping, we are moving to our next place. What I want to know is, when do we get our nap?

Mommy says she has what she calls "the spiritual gift of energy." She pays attention everywhere. No matter how tired we are, if she recognizes what she calls a Divine Appointment, she keeps it. Sometimes they last until the middle of the night. As near as I can tell, these appointments are everywhere - in people's homes, Star Bucks, bathrooms, parks, churches, and stores. It can be 100 degrees outside and Mommy will stand out with no hat and talk for as long as necessary. She'll even let her food get cold. No matter how hard I whine or pull, she finishes. When do we get our nap?

When we go evangelizing with a group for the first time, Mommy limits the time to an hour and a half. She says the emotions of giving the Gospel and watching people meet Jesus wears people out the first time they do it. She likens it to Moses not being able to look directly into God's face or taking your shoes off on Holy Ground. After we evangelize, she sends people home for a nap but she's off to her next assignment. If she takes a nap, it means she is sick. When do we get our nap?

Mommy blogs most nights. She also answers and writes emails, texts, and checks out Facebook and Twitter. I have a twitter account and a blog but I'm usually too tired to write. I must not have the spiritual gift of energy. Mommy says I don't have it yet. Mommy works until way into the night and doesn't walk me until she finishes. Doesn't she know I can't go to bed until after she walks me and goes to bed? When do we get our nap?

Mommy woke up this morning at 5:00 AM after working until after midnight the night before. She tried to go back to sleep but it didn't work. So, she turned on her computer and went to work. I heard her tell Daddy that if she got tired, she'd pull over and take a nap. Ha! I'll say it again. When do we get our nap?

Tonight, she told Daddy that she was tired and was going straight to bed. I was hopeful until she opened up the computer. Mommy! Please! When do we get our nap?

Mommy says I could nap while she is driving or working but she doesn't understand. I have to watch and protect her. If she would take a nap, I could too. Wait...maybe I understand. I want a nap but I don't take one because I have to do my job and watch mommy. Maybe that is how it is with Mommy. She has to do her job.

Mommy says it is more exhausting to say no to God than it is to follow Him into the wee hours of the night. She suspects that many people who say they are tired all the time are ignoring God about something. She says she has tried it both ways and when she says no to God because she thinks she is too "tired," she gets even more tired. When she says yes to God, she gets more of that spiritual gift of energy. No matter how tired she is, when God sends an assignment and she takes a deep breath and does it, when she finishes, she isn't tired any more.

Mommy says that God invites people who are tired to come to Him. She says His burden is always the lightest and His yoke the easiest. Maybe that is what the spiritual gift of energy is - accepting God's light burdens and easy yoke. Maybe even a nap is a heavy burden that wears you out if God has told you to do something else. Mommy says God will give us rest but sometimes that rest is accepting the burdens that might seem hard and trusting that if those burden are from God, they will be lighter when we accept His yoke and rest in Him.

Before you get too worried about Mommy, she knows that she also needs physical rest and that she needs to take a Sabbath. It's just that she has two speeds - fast and off. She does take a day off a week. The rest of the time, she goes until she hits what she calls a "wall" and then she just stops - for an hour, a day, and occasionally a week. After a long journey, sometimes she stops for a month. I understand what Mommy means when she says God sends all kinds of "rest" but I still like it when His "rest" is a nap.

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Wednesday, September 16, 2015

If You Want a Doggie Door, Stay Inside the Fence

Pocket Full of Quarters Trek 2015
Shiloh’s Shenanigans
If You Want a Doggy Door, Stay Inside the Fence


By Shiloh The Shepherd’s Sheep Dog
Mommy - Cheryle M. Touchton


But this is what I commanded them, saying, "Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the ways which I command you, that it may be well with you." Jeremiah 7:23


I learned about doggy doors. Mommy has a friend named Margo. Margo has a dog named Floyd. Floyd has a doggy door. That means Floyd can run outside any time he chooses. We stayed at Floyd's house this week and Floyd taught me how to use a doggy door.

I was confused at first. One minute Floyd would be there and the next, he'd be gone. It was like he vanished. I watched and noticed that he used his nose to open the tiny door. I didn't want to try it at first. My nose is sensitive and I thought it would hurt. When I finally got up my nerve and pushed with my nose, an entire world opened up before me. I didn't have to depend on Mommy walking me. If I saw a bird through the window, I could go outside and chase it. I could chase the stars all night if I wanted to. If I got tired or cold, I could come back in. I was free. Yes, there was a fence there that kept me safe but I felt free. I'm sorry I wasted two days of my time there being afraid.

I think some people are afraid to walk through their people doors. They long to be free in Christ but a door stops them. Like my doggie door, their door might only need a tiny tap, but they waste time letting fear of that tap keep them from having the freedom God gave them in Christ.

I've asked Mommy if I can have a doggie door back home but she says Rascal would use it. Rascal isn't afraid of anything so he'd learn to use it the very first day. I reminded Mommy that there was a fence in our backyard but Mommy says that Rascal won't stay inside the protective fence. Mommy won't put in a doggy door because Rascal won't stay inside the fence and she wants to keep Rascal safe.

I think some people are like Rascal. They're mad because God won't give them a people door but it's their own fault. God knows they wouldn't stay inside God's protective fence. God loves them enough to protect them by not giving them a people door. Like Rascal causing me not to have a doggie door, that probably means the people close to them aren't getting to enjoy a people door either.

I think people and cats would be happier if they would stay inside their protective fences. That means more of us could have doors that open too. Would someone please tell Rascal that we would both be better off if he would learn to stay inside Mommy's protective fence? Then, I could have a doggy door.

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Saturday, September 12, 2015

Beautiful Feet

Pocket Full of Quarters Trek 2015
Shiloh’s Shenanigans - Beautiful Feet


By Shiloh The Shepherd’s Sheep Dog
Mommy - Cheryle M. Touchton


Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach, except they be sent? even as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things! Romans 10:13-15


I loved Auntie Valeria instantly. She climbed into the camper and she belonged to me. I could smell Woody on her so I knew there was another doggy in her life but I didn't care. I was with her. She even let me sit in her lap.

Auntie Valerie is amazing. She talks to me and gives good hugs. People respect her and because of her, people came to hear Mommy talk about Gospel Conversations. I think Auntie Valerie must care just as much about people meeting Jesus as Mommy does because she sure did work hard to make sure people learned about it.

I didn't have to wait inside Hallelujah because Auntie Valerie invited me inside. She trusted me to run around upstairs at Mommy's publisher, Redemption Press. I tried to be really good so she would invite me back. She cooked lunch and dinner for us and fed me real people food. Now I understand why humans eat too much food sometimes. Chicken is really good!

I did learn a few things about Auntie Valerie. She is just like Mommy - she doesn't like kisses in the mouth and doesn't want me licking her feet. People just don't understand how good feet taste and Auntie Valerie has beautiful feet. I don't understand why they pay so much money for foot massages and pedicures when they could just let me lick their feet.

Just before we left, I met Woody and Woody's daddy, George. I could tell right away that George likes dogs. He understood what I was saying. Woody is blessed like me. His mommy and daddy really love him. I didn't want to like Woody because he belonged to my Auntie Valerie but I have to admit that I did like Woody. He was fun and didn't seem to mind when Auntie Valerie kissed me.

Mommy says every person that meets Jesus has a Gospel Team. She says leading people to Jesus takes all kinds of spiritual gifts. Auntie Valerie worked hard to help all of those people learn how to tell other people about Jesus. I think that means that Auntie Valerie is on the Gospel Team for every person they help lead to Jesus. The Bible says that the people who help share the good news have beautiful feet. I love Auntie Valerie's beautiful feet. That is why I want to lick them.

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Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Did Mommy Miss the Mark?

Pocket Full of Quarters Trek 2015
Shiloh’s Shenanigans
Did Mommy Miss the Mark?


By Shiloh The Shepherd’s Sheep Dog
Mommy - Cheryle M. Touchton


For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Mommy tells people that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. She explains that sin means missing the mark. I might not understand what that means but Mommy must have sinned because it sure seemed to me like she didn't do what she intended to do. Isn't that what missing the mark means?

Mommy tried to blame what happened on a speed bump. She quickly explained how slowly she was going, which is true. But I was watching the entire thing and I saw what really happened.

Mommy went through her regular packing routine. It isn't easy. She turned off the lights, opened the curtains, checked the door and cabinet latches in the circle order that she always uses, and checked the fridge and microwave doors. She went outside, unplugged the water and electricity, curled up the hoses, put them away, latched the 2 cabinets underneath and pulled on the cabinets to check them. She climbed in the driver's seat, put on her seat belt, and remembered her cup of tea. She groaned, took off her seat belt and carefully twisted to step over my food bowl. She must be getting more limber because she only knocked out a few pieces of food this time. She grabbed her tea from the microwave and quickly - too quickly - closed the door. She knows it doesn't always close completely but she didn't pull on it to check. Sure enough, it didn't latch all the way. When she slowly drove over the annoying speed bump, Hallelujah threw a fit and bounced the glass plate out of the microwave and to the floor in a crash. Glass shattered and went everywhere.

"Shiloh stay!" Mommy said firmly. I'm flattered that her first thought was for me but I was already staying. I knew what glass did to my feet. Mommy took a deep breath, reminded me again to stay, put the camper in park, got the swish broom and dust pan, and started picking up glass.

"I should have listened to Bob and bought that dust buster," she muttered. "Why don't we have gloves in here?" We found glass for days. That first night, she forgot and walked barefoot on the floor. She still winces when she steps down on her middle toe on the right foot. She can't see the glass in her foot but she knows it's there. Mommy used to have serious feet problems and Daddy says she is never to go barefoot. Did she miss the mark again when she went barefoot?

So you tell me. Don't you agree, Mommy missed the mark or is there something I don't understand? She meant to close that microwave all the way. She knows it doesn't always latch. She knew not to go barefoot, especially after that much glass, but she forgot. Mommy says the wages of sin is death and that microwave plate sure did die. Mommy says there is a difference between sin and accidents but she's had things like this happen to her before.

Mommy called Daddy and confessed. "I think the speed bump caused it but Shiloh is going to tell you that I didn't close the door all the way when I got my tea out."

"You're probably both right," Daddy said kindly. It never seems to surprise or bother him when Mommy tells him what I say. "You probably didn't close it completely but that plate fits down in a groove. When you went over the bump, it bounced the plate out. "

Daddy couldn't resist adding, "Bet you wish you'd bought that dust buster now." Daddy loves being right, which he usually is, but I had to wonder if reminding Mommy he was right was also an example of missing the mark.

Daddy immediately went to helping Mommy solve the problem. "Measure the space. If you see an appliance repair shop, stop and see if they have one. I don't think the camper stores will have one. I'll order one if you can't find one." He's also offered several suggestions for getting the glass out of the toe, but so far, Mommy still winces if she steps just right.

Mommy also says, "All who call on the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved." She explains that the Greek word for saved is sozo She says it means much more than saved for an eternity. She says it also means healed, delivered, and preserved. I think that means God is going to heal Mommy's foot.

Why do campgrounds put in speed bumps? Hallelujah really doesn't like them and it makes him act out. Since he is usually the smallest camper in the campground, I suspect that other campers don't like them either. Aren't campgrounds supposed to try to delight their customers? Doesn't that mean that campgrounds are missing the mark too?

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Pocket Full of Quarters Journey 2015
She Was Listening


In Twin Falls, Idaho
By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. James 1:5-6


"Be careful not to slip! They don't have a rug in there and when I bent over to dry my feet, I slipped right down on the floor. Be careful."

"I'm so sorry you slipped. Are you hurt?" I asked. I had just walked into the KOA bathroom with my shower supplies.

"I will be tomorrow. I think I'm going to tell the office."

"Good idea," I said as she walked out. I was surprised that it didn't turn into an encounter after that lead in but oh well. What do I know? God's ways are mysterious.

I carefully stepped in and out of the shower, noticing that the shower curtains were too short so all of the floors were wet. I dried off and dressed. When I came out of the shower stall to put on my makeup, the same woman said, "You were fast! It doesn't look like you slipped."

"I didn't. I was careful. Thanks for the tip. I thought you left."

"I did but I forgot my blow-dryer." We began talking. You can probably guess that it did indeed turn into an encounter. She was pretty sure she was going to heaven because she'd been good - not perfect - but good. She went to church occasionally. I spoke Gospel scripture to her about salvation by grace and not by works. She got it instantly and wanted to pray for forgiveness and salvation.

The entire time we'd been talking, I was aware of a young woman standing behind me. She was slowly putting on her makeup and using a curling iron while listening carefully. I kept glancing at her in the mirror out of the corner of my eye as I talked to the other woman but hadn't spoken a word to her yet. When I saw that she was getting emotional, I turned to her and said, "Would you like to pray with us?"

"Yes," she said gratefully.

"May we hold hands?" I asked both women. There in the bathroom, standing in a circle, both women prayed to receive Jesus. I got their contact information and the first woman left.

"Where are you from?" I asked, deciding that I needed to know more about this lovely, tattooed, thin woman who had met Jesus so quickly.

"I'm from all over," she wept. "I can't seem to settle down. I'm here with my boyfriend but I don't think it is going to work out."

"How long have you been with him?" I asked.

"A year," she said, continuing to cry. "He is rude to me. I think he wants me to leave. This keeps happening to me."

"It isn't going to happen anymore," I said firmly. "You are leaving this room changed from the inside out. You are a princess of the King of Kings and deserve to be treated accordingly. I can't tell you what to do but I know who can. The Bible promises us wisdom. It is in the book of James. It says that if you ask for wisdom, you will get it. There is a catch however. It also says that if you don't act on that wisdom, you will feel like you are being tossed about in the waves - you will feel seasick. The Bible also promises strength and courage. May I pray for your wisdom, strength, and courage?"

"Yes," she whispered.

I put my arms around her and could feel her trembling. I asked God to grant her the wisdom to know what to do about the boyfriend and the strength and courage to act. After I prayed, I encouraged her to act immediately on the wisdom she received.

"If you decide to leave, do you have somewhere safe to go?" I asked.

"I do," she said. "I could go home to my mother." I have a feeling that will be one happy mother. I have her contact information and can't wait to find out what she did.




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