Devotions of A Gerbil

By Traci Stead

“Sometimes I think I am a gerbil in dog’s clothing. I believe I am a dog. I am desired, longed for, patiently waited for, and loved. At least I can tell myself that, but perhaps I am a gerbil—not really wanted—a replacement—fun for a while, but sure to be returned. Then God comes along . . . ” Do you ever feel like a stray dog, alone and frightened, cowering in the cold corner of an animal shelter? God scoops us up into his arms and carries us home from the shelter. He washes us and gives us a name. But life with the Master is new and difficult. The Master’s new rules sometimes make us look through the fence slats of His kingdom. We dig holes and crawl back into the world. God continues to whistle from his porch even while we chase cars and cats and dig through the neighbors’ trash. Eventually, we have to decide if we will leave our doggy lives behind and enjoy a relationship with the Master.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ambassador International
• Release date: Oct 25, 2013
• ISBN: 9781620203408

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Devotions of a Gerbil

© 2013 by Traci Stead

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

ISBN: 978-1-62020-241-8

eISBN: 978-1-62020-340-8

Unless otherwise indicated, THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Cover design and typesetting: Matthew Mulder

E-book conversion: Anna Riebe

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This book is dedicated to my husband and best friend, Matt, and to my messenger from God, Ed. May you always be found on God’s front porch.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Introduction: God Still Speaks

Chapter One: A Gerbil in Dog's Clothing

Chapter Two: Don't Fence Me In

Chapter Three: Digging Holes

Chapter Four: A Pooch on the Porch Does Not Make it Home

Chapter Five: Slamming the Doggie Door

Chapter Six: Suitcases Are Scary

Chapter Seven: It’s a Good Day to Die

Chapter Eight: Dogs Don’t See that Far

Chapter Nine: Fly Swatter Fear

Chapter Ten: Scratching Jealousy Behind the Ears

Chapter Eleven: Chasing Cars Like a Gerbil

Epilogue: Dog Fight

Contact Information

INTRODUCTION

GOD STILL SPEAKS

MY FIRST FULL-TIME TEACHING JOB was as teacher of a kindergarten class at a parochial school. I loved that job and especially those kids. I still think of them and their silly little selves. Over the years as I remember the things the kids did and said, I realize that those kids taught me as much as I taught them. They taught me about laughter, revenge, sadness, fear, and boldness. They taught me about faithfulness and loyalty, friendship and unconditional love.

When I stopped to truly listen to what they said and did, I heard the voice of God explaining what I should be like. Often the Spirit told me I was just like that little five- or six-year-old—no better, no worse. I watched girls bring up arguments or offenses from weeks ago, and realized I was still hurting over something that happened years ago. In the bathroom as we buried a fish at sea, I reassured the kids that we could get another fish, even as I cried on the inside for the grandfather that could not be replaced. I hugged the child that was torn by divorce, as I called two separate houses to speak to my own parents so many hundreds of miles away. Who was student and who was teacher was not always a distinct line.

When we were expecting our first child, I was still working for the parochial school, with little pay and no insurance. My husband had just graduated with a master’s degree and was looking at doctoral programs. Sitting on a ledge outside one of the university buildings, I watched squirrels hoard acorns in the crook of a tree for the coming winter and wondered what would happen to us and our baby. Later, while anxiously weeping on the balcony of our small apartment, I realized that God was also caring for the birds that perched nearby. Squirrels and birds reassured me my Lord would do the same for me.

God has spoken in a clear voice to many people. In Exodus 3, God spoke to Moses, telling him to lead his people out of Egypt. In Joshua 1, God asks Joshua to lead his people after Moses’ death. He tells Joshua several times to be strong and courageous. In Judges 6, God speaks to his people through a prophet and an angel, and even speaks directly himself.

Those are all Old Testament occurrences, you might say. Yes, and in the New Testament God speaks to Jesus and Paul and Peter. John was carried into one of the heavens to hear what God had to say and then wrote it all down so we can hear God’s message even today.

But it seems to many of us that God has finished speaking to individual people. He relies on his Word, the Bible, to enter our ears, minds, and hearts. Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16 that Scripture is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, and since God is unchanging, we can only believe that Scripture still has that ability. But is that the only way God speaks to us now?

In 1 Corinthians 12:7 and following, we discover that the Spirit is given to us for the common good. The gifts of the Spirit are not ours to cling to tightly and never share. Some of the Spirit’s mentioned gifts are the messages of wisdom, knowledge, and faith. It stands to reason then that if we listen to those filled with the Spirit around us, we will hear God’s message to us.

God tells us in Isaiah 55:8-11 that his ways are not our ways. We cannot completely understand him or his thoughts, but we can hear him and do as he wishes.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

God does speak to us; but like rain and snow he may be difficult for us to understand.

Back in that little West Texas parochial school, I was affected