Chapter 11 – Consistency

The Lord Does Not Change

Job 12:7-10

“But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.”

Hebrews 13:8

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

Revelation 1:8

“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”

We have all heard the cliché about the inevitable ups and downs of life, for me this was just as real and true and it is also true and real for everyone including my little kitties and with my little husky. Little ups for Kaiyah had started to appear as she had begun to ask me for the mission hikes instead of me just taking her. She was showing interest in “treats” which she didn’t do at all before. She stopped chewing at things she shouldn’t pretty quickly, thank God. She would start to come out to greet me when I would return home. She would show playful paw and muzzle activity with Gideon and Pumpkin. She would lay down wherever she felt was cozy and just stretch out in the most languid manner - and many other little signs that showed me trust and healing were happening and becoming more consistent. Sometimes it is easy for us to overlook those little improvements.

When I have been prayerful, patient, watchful and consistent I have been blessed to be able to observe the “budding” of wholeness rising to the surface in lives around me and I was seeing that happening in Kaiyah. I totally love that process and find a genuine joy in nurturing that where I can, yep - including God’s Creatures. Souls are precious, including mine, and need that and it is needed consistently. No one knows and does this more perfectly than my Loving God and Creator and it is displayed all over His universe and right here on His little blue planet, and in all that He has made and does. This is not always an easy process as most living things, (particularly people), have variances and there can be extremes like fragile or hardened, frightened or angry, demanding or indifferent, narcissistic or self rejecting, aggressive or passive; we are all complex and have imbalances in a number of areas. Personally I know this to be true of myself and those I have known. Animals are not the same as us but we share similarities... Plants are not the same either and yet share similarities. Similarities seem to be found in all things made in the heavens and the earth and all that dwells in it. We are not all the same but unique as the Creator has made us so, and yet He designed us to be together and so we share similarities. How could we not? In His Consistency He is Consistent.

I remind myself how Job offered an overwhelmed painful testimony of Sovereign God’s Character and Consistency being known to His Creation, and that his "friends" were missing it. Job was going through tremendous trauma of loss and suffering, while being mocked by those who were his closest friends and even his wife scoffed at him. In one part of many, Job challenged the so-called counsel of those unwise friends who thought themselves to be so wise about what was happening to him saying, beautifully raw: “But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.” This is one potent Passage that should really humble the attentive human soul... It does mine!

As I continue to pray, study the Word, keep on learning - and try to live out my faith in my life (though I am not doing that perfectly) I have become more and more aware of the utter importance of consistency. This is how my Good Shepherd is… the same yesterday, today and forever. I find this absolutely fortifying and comforting. In the Scripture found in Malachi 3:6 God declares that He is The Lord and He changes not. Knowing that He alone is Good and He NEVER changes... is wondrously and simply hope infusing to my soul especially with the tests and trials in this life. He is overwhelming infinite stability. As I reflect that God Alone is, “I Am Who I Am”, that He is exactly Who He says He is at all times, does perfectly what He says He will do, and precisely means what He says - period. There are many who do not like that even amongst those who say they do... Just consider the arguments and divisions in the people who say they are His own, or any people discussing the meaning of His Written Word or how it is to be lived out.

In caring for others including my little animals and myself, consistency is so important. Consistency of good things like: kindness, gentleness, patience, love, self-control and all the other fruit of Holy Spirit that should be evident in my life; fresh clean water, good healthy food, exercise, things to stimulate them to keep on learning and being engaged with what and who they are, affirmation of value and good behavior, making sure they are healthy and if not tend to it, setting clear firm boundaries for knowing what not to do, protecting them whenever possible, providing ways for social bonding, keeping them clean and cared for, keeping a routine in place, paying attention to the temperature, listening to them… and many other ways I try to show consistency. I admit I think about many things much of the time which is another major reason I have purposed to stay as close to Jesus and His Word as possible. I need Him and His Consistency.

I personally believe that those things listed are important for every living thing at any stage including babies, children, and those young and for those with more years; and color or place makes no matter. I see this in the teeny and tiny things: fish, birds, reptiles, mammals - and in life all around me. Thank God He is God, and has every living soul and breath of mankind in His Hand! I also believe the application of those things listed should be thoughtfully individual because I have not met two identical living things ever. I like tending a garden and know that even when growing flowers, tomatoes, cherry bushes or anything, some need more water and others need less, some need to be pruned more and others don’t need any, some need more mulch and others prefer you just let them be even if they “seem” identical...

When I take time to consider my walk with God, my marriage, my family, my friendships, the areas my life touches; the importance of consistency always reveals itself to be essential. I believe this is by His Design. It is after all how He is, and He wants me to follow Him and I want to. His Consistency truly “buds and blossoms” life, healing, trust and all that He declares is good.

As time went by that year with travels to visit my mom the second time after my dad passed away, as well as taking care of things at work, with ministry, and relationships, the presence of Esther’s sweet purr and meow no longer there and Kaiyah and Pumpkin having joined the family ranks - consistency was again proving vital and helpful for all of us especially God’s Consistency. Kaiyah was truly showing “budding” signs of healing and the trust building blocks were getting bigger... but we still had a ways to go. She still had not made a sound. She kept her tail straight down except on very rare occasions like seeing her coyote visitor and meeting Pumpkin. She drooped her head forward, had a sad far-away look, made her stress laps in the backyard but less frequently and with less fervor, and genuinely still carried a tremendous weight in her soul and so did I.

I was prayerful and determined, with God’s Help, to be consistent like my Lord and to take each and every moment to walk that out even if others didn’t like it or were not so consistent with me. However, my pets would show themselves to be consistent humble companions providing amazing testimony to the consistent goodness of God in my life and in Whose Hand we are all in.

…Until we meet again…