S.G. notes "Affliction"

Affliction

  Webster’s defines affliction as causing persistent pain or distress, great suffering.  In our last two gatherings we’ve looked at several texts in Psalms that describes God using affliction for our greater good.  Just the idea of this concept should cause us to pause and chew on the idea for a bit...  Maybe this idea doesn’t necessarily fit with our current Biblical “ideology.”  It’s worth evaluating, and I’ve appreciated the time we’ve spent discussing it the last two weeks.

   These are the texts we’ve covered

   Ps 119:67 “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.”

   vs 71 “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.”

   vs 75 “ I know, O Lord, that your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness you have                            afflicted me.”

  

   vs 92 “ If your law had not been my delight I would have perished in my affliction.”

  Several key parts here:  The author has encountered affliction that God has at the very least allowed if not brought directly into the author’s life (75).  God specifically had a purpose, a plan, and desired end result for the affliction (67) = to bring the author back to Himself!!  The Father’s immense yet tough love has brought back the heart that has gone astray.  God’s word and His law sustained the person through affliction (92).  And ultimately it was good and God was glorified (71).

  Affliction can come in different ways-  possibly an illness, a job issue, relationship concern, a dry season of life, financial stress, just to scratch the surface- did I hear someone say car issues?

  What other examples do we have?  Job is most likely the biggest example, the nation of Israel, some of the churches at the start of Revelation, even Christ himself, and what did Paul have to say on the subject?  2 Corinthians 12:1-10

  So if we currently find ourselves in a season of affliction, or perhaps experience it later in life-

    I pray we open our hearts to hear God’s voice, open ourselves to His word-statutes and commands, I pray we hope in His promises, that we repent and return to Christ.  He will never leave you and He has no plans of forsaking you-  Press on

  

Best wishes Steve

Well, it seems our journey raising our foster squirrel Steve is now over.  It's been one week since we officially released him back to the wild.

  We determined Christa's Grandma's house was the best location for Steve to begin his new life.  So we constructed a nesting box for him, and mounted it on Grandma's back porch.  She has a great porch for a squirrel, it has a lattice roof which makes for great climbing and sunning spots.  He also has a bird bath for water nearby, which he splashed through within a few hours of us being there.  We placed hay and old shirts in his nesting box for insulation; and hopefully he will continue to fill it with mud and twigs etc.

  Grandma seems to love having a new neighbor.  She calls everyday with an update and is constantly checking on Steve.  WE are constantly reminding her that he is now a 'wild' animal and will learn for himself.  But apparently Steve has an addictive personality!  Grandma's sole duties are to keep food near for Steve through the winter, and provide fresh water.  She tells us that she has seen Steve with a few squirrel buddies on several different occasions.

  It was sort of hard parting ways with Steve; although, we will more than likely see him through the fall.  Our time raising him was completely awesome, we would do it again in a heartbeat.  Hope you enjoyed a peak into our experience-  Best wishes Steve!

There's more to Steve than you think

Wanted to give you an update on our foster squirrel Steve.  He is growing up just fine!  Sort of amazing how he is progressing, learning, and growing.
  Here's how the past few weeks have gone:  Steve loves the quiet and the warmth, he buries himself in blankets when he naps.  He has weened himself off of formula!  Totally cool- he went from chugging it big time to quitting cold turkey. Amazing...   SO, he eats a rodent block, peanuts, toast, and walnuts.  Also, he taught himself to drink water out of a bowl.  He never took water from a rabbit style water bottle- just from the bowl.
  Last week, Christa and I transformed a kennel into a squirrel wonderland.  We wrapped the kennel with "poultry fencing" so he wouldn't escape.  Ps. apparently chicken wire is now poultry fencing (just in case you needed to know).
  Steve's wonderland is filled with a hanging nest, sticks of all sizes, his food and water.

  Here Steve is soaking in some window sun, chillin' with a nut.

  Well, we're moving forward- have some preparations for his soon coming release and constructing a nesting box for his transfer.  Apparently we'll be doing lots of research because there's more to Steve than you think!

And then there's Steve

Yes- and then there's Steve, our foster squirrel.


    I guess there should be a back story for how we have a foster squirrel- here it is...

    Last week as Christa was waiting for our son at the bus stop, she saw a baby squirrel.   The little guy was quite small, alone, scared and wondering a bit.  So, my wife observed him for 20 minutes while waiting on the bus.  The road here at our bus stop is being paved and so the atmosphere is quite loud.  My wife (the animal lover) absolutely couldn't leave the little guy, and so being worried for his well being- brought him home.
  That night, by the time I got home, she had done more research on raising foster squirrels than most vets.  Being presented with the research- I obviously could not say no.
  So we have a 5 week old foster squirrel who hopefully will be ready to return to the real world at about 12 weeks.  We are raising him on puppy formula, and rodent blocks to chew on.
  Steve?  We decided to name him Steve after the movie "Over The Hedge" and in honor of Steve Carell.

  I expect it to be a journey!  He's been with us for 6 short days and is already comfortable with us, feeding, relieving himself, exploring, climbing and balancing.  It probably won't be easy, but we think it's worth the experience.  We have an 8 year old son, five fish, a dog named Bailey, and then there's Steve..

zh