The Bearded Dragon

My daughter is a pet sitter. For a fee she will come to your home and take care of your pet while you are away. When most people think about a pet sitter they think about a cat or dog but my daughter will sit for any animal, this week she is sitting for a bearded dragon. 

Bearded dragons are not my favorite animal in the world and I have to be honest in saying that I probably wouldn’t take care of it. Like any other pet they need to be fed daily and taken out of their cage for exercise. They need love and affection and a light to keep them warm. They also need a hiding spot in their cage so they can feel secure when stressed. 

Bearded dragons may be disgusting creatures to me but they really have some of the same needs that we have. God cares for us much the same way my daughter cares for the bearded dragon. Philippians 4:19 “And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus”. 

Bearded dragons of course need to be fed. Unlike bearded dragons we do not have a need for crickets or worms but we do have an essential need to be spiritually fed. You can do this by attending a local Christ centered church. You can also feed yourself by reading scripture and participating in prayer. 

Like bearded dragons we also need abundant exercise. Bearded dragons are fast though and can disappear at the blink of an eye. You may find yourself searching your home for them only to find them snuggling in your couch. 

Like the bearded dragon we can sometimes stray and disappear from God. Don’t worry though, he will find you. God will pursue you until you are back in his loving arms again. When returning to him remember not to repeat what it was that caused you to stray in the first place. Confess to God your sins and ask for his forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

The bearded dragon may be an ugly looking thing but they respond to, and need love and affection, just like we do. We also respond to God by receiving his unconditional love and grace. The Holy Spirit is a free gift that God will give to us just by asking. We can also respond to his love through prayer and worship. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

Bearded dragons need to be in the light to be warmed since they are reptiles. We also need God’s love and warmth. We can do this through prayer and scripture but we can also receive God’s warmth and light through being continually open to him. I often find, when deep in prayer, my soul being steadily warmed by God. 

Bearded dragons need a place to hide when stressed. We also feel a need from time to time to get away from it all and seek a secluded place. Jesus often felt overwhelmed and possibly stressed by the people who were following him and seeking his healing grace. He would either get into his boat, go up in the hills or to a garden. Wherever it is that we seek to find seclusion, don’t forget that God is with you through every step.

So you see, caring for a bearded dragon is much like God caring for us. He feeds us and welcomes us into his kingdom. He helps us through difficult times and guides our steps. Proverbs 16:9 “The human mind plans the way but the Lord directs the steps.” Embrace God and he will take good care of you. 

Dear God, we are so blessed to be spiritually fed and guided by your love; stay with us always. Amen

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My First Blog Post

Image
​This is my first blog post. I have to tell you that I am quite unsure of myself. I have been reading other blog posts and wonder if I can measure up. I am an upper middle aged woman who loves to read and write. I have stacks of books and journals to prove it.  My first blog post is going to be about my great-grandmother. I was about five years old when I stayed overnight. I had fun helping my grandma in the garden that day and helping her to make dinner, or supper where I’m from.   When the day was over, my grandma put me on the couch to sleep since they didn’t have any guest bedrooms. She had a big writing desk that was across the room from the couch. I really was’t that sleepy since it was quite a bit before my regular bedtime so I waited and watched what she did.  Next she went to the writing desk and sat down and pulled out a little book with a rough looking cover. She started writing in it and she wrote for quite a long time. I was starting to get sleepy but I manag...
Read more

Lost and Found

Image
​Have you ever lost your child? Even for a short time? I have, and I can tell you it was one of the most stressful days of my life.  My children are 35 and 33 now, and even though they’re adults, I still worry about them. I worry about them getting into a car crash, getting seriously ill, or other needless worries. I know God says not to worry, but I’m a mother and I still do. I remember one time when my son was three years old and I was very worried about him. We went to the grocery store; just another typical shopping trip. I had some film I wanted developed, so I went to the service counter. In those days, you put the film in a little bag and wrote what type of prints you wanted, your address, and other things on the bag.  My son was near me and he wandered over to a toy section close by. I filled out the information for the film and turned back to get him, and he was gone. Terror struck my heart! Where was he? I was sure he hadn’t gone too far, so I searched for him. Sever...
Read more

Draw Near To Me

Image
​Sunday is a special day at our house. My husband and I start out the day by going to a local coffee shop about an hour before church.  I order my usual latte and my husband orders an iced tea. We both order a blueberry muffin and sit at our usual table.  During this time together we not only enjoy our treats but also enjoy each other. We talk and talk about our days over the past week and really enjoy our time.   In this day and age it is very important for married couples to sit down and talk. Making a weekly coffee date has really improved our relationship. We rush through our week with our jobs, children and homes, sometimes saying little or nothing to each other. In the same way we cultivate a relationship with each other, it is very important to have a healthy relationship with God. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” NRSV  How can we get to know our God better?  Quite time. Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God” NRSV...
Read more