Dog Lessons - Volume 2

Week two of dog lessons. This one is short and simple.

When our directors took their dogs to puppy school they were taught a series of commands and actions for us with their dogs. One of them was the "Leave It" command.

This is the command that is really designed to save the dog's life. When the dogs are getting ready to lick a unknown liquid off the ground, or eat something from the street, or pick up something they find - "Leave It" tells them to immediately walk away from what ever it is, even if it looks like a treat and come to their master.
When you teach the dogs this command you put down parts of hot dogs where they learn that whatever you have for them is better then anything that they might get off the ground. You are suppose to ALWAYS give them a treat when you use the "Leave It". This reinforces hat they will always do better following the "Leave It" command then their nature to eat / lick what they find.

Many times God uses the "Leave It" command with us. He tells us in no uncertain terms that we need to leave something alone. He is not doing this to make us suffer, or where we will miss something great, He is doing this to protect us.
It may be not going to a certain place, not being around a certain person, not participating in certain events, and a whole list of other not's and don'ts. I look back and these LEAVE IT commands have probably kept me out of more trouble and bad situations then I could ever imagine. Things that looked good or appealing, and even sometimes benign on the surface, really could have destroyed me if I had gone along or started down a path.

Alcohol, and drugs may never have been temptations for you or me, but I know myself. I am a people person. Male or female I like to talk to people. I am friendly with about everyone I meet from clerks to long time acquaintances. I am always asking how someone is, how their day is, etc. Many times that has lead to acquaintances, again both male and female, asking me to help with this or that or go somewhere with them or do something with them. Many a time I have heard a LEAVE IT type command in my head, and quickly learned the importance of no. Being busy can be a lifesaver. I may not have done anything wrong or bad if I went with them, but bad and evil would have been going on around me, and I do not need to be there. No reason to risk something bad happening just because someone ask you to go. Many times we do not have to participate in a bad thing for it too effect us. Most of us have been in situations, or around people, that were doing stupid things that if they messed up or failed would have impacted or hurt us, regardless of our participation. Sometimes mere presence is enough to be devastating.

My parents have always said that I seemed to know when a situation was going to be bad and that I avoided them better then they had ever hoped. I am sure most parents say similar things, but honestly when I have sensed God saying "Leave It", I tried too. That does not mean I have always been successful. I have made LOTS of mistakes, more and of a variety that it is even hard for me to sometimes grasp, but I think I have avoided a lot of big mistakes by hearing LEAVE IT!!! and following the order immediately.

I also have to say that when I have followed the order, and left it, God always seems to reward me. Not because I deserve it, because we all know that I, nor you, deserve to be doing as well as we are. We are successful because God wants us too be. He wants to encourage me. He teaches me with positive reinforcement that when He says LEAVE IT, and then there is something better waiting for me when I follow Him. Maybe it is nothing more then not reaping any more pain, but that is enough.

He is not trying to hurt or limit me, but to protect me. I think that is one of the hardest, but most valuable, lessons for the maturing Christian. God is not trying to limit you, He is protecting you. His reward/love is sweeter then any temptation that may pull you away, and when He tells us to LEAVE IT, He has reason, even if we do not and will not ever understand it. He is not protecting me because He is bored, and has nothing better too do, He is protecting me because I need it.
I hope you have a great day and are as blessed today as I am, not because you have earned it but because you are blessed by God. Remember the lesson of James 1:13-18 -

James 1:13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

James 1:16 Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

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	Week two of dog lessons. This one is short and simple. When our directors took their dogs to puppy school they were taught a series of commands and actions for us with their dogs. One of them was the "Leave It" command. This is the command that is really designed to save the dog's life. When the dogs are getting ready to lick a unknown liquid off the ground, or eat something from the street, or pick up something they find - "Leave It" tells them to immediately walk away from what ever it is, even if it looks like a treat and come to their master. When you teach the dogs this command you put down parts of hot dogs where they learn that whatever you have for them is better then anything that they might get off the ground. You are suppose to ALWAYS give them a treat when you use the "Leave It". This reinforces hat they will always do better following the "Leave It" command then their nature to eat / lick what they find. Many times God uses the "Leave It" command with us. He tells us in no uncertain terms that we need to leave something alone. He is not doing this to make us suffer, or where we will miss something great, He is doing this to protect us. It may be not going to a certain place, not being around a certain person, not participating in certain events, and a whole list of other not's and don'ts. I look back and these LEAVE IT commands have probably kept me out of more trouble and bad situations then I could ever imagine. Things that looked good or appealing, and even sometimes benign on the surface, really could have destroyed me if I had gone along or started down a path. Alcohol, and drugs may never have been temptations for you or me, but I know myself. I am a people person. Male or female I like to talk to people. I am friendly with about everyone I meet from clerks to long time acquaintances. I am always asking how someone is, how their day is, etc. Many times that has lead to acquaintances, again both male and female, asking me to help with this or that or go somewhere with them or do something with them. Many a time I have heard a LEAVE IT type command in my head, and quickly learned the importance of no. Being busy can be a lifesaver. I may not have done anything wrong or bad if I went with them, but bad and evil would have been going on around me, and I do not need to be there. No reason to risk something bad happening just because someone ask you to go. Many times we do not have to participate in a bad thing for it too effect us. Most of us have been in situations, or around people, that were doing stupid things that if they messed up or failed would have impacted or hurt us, regardless of our participation. Sometimes mere presence is enough to be devastating. My parents have always said that I seemed to know when a situation was going to be bad and that I avoided them better then they had ever hoped. I am sure most parents say similar things, but honestly when I have sensed God saying "Leave It", I tried too. That does not mean I have always been successful. I have made LOTS of mistakes, more and of a variety that it is even hard for me to sometimes grasp, but I think I have avoided a lot of big mistakes by hearing LEAVE IT!!! and following the order immediately. I also have to say that when I have followed the order, and left it, God always seems to reward me. Not because I deserve it, because we all know that I, nor you, deserve to be doing as well as we are. We are successful because God wants us too be. He wants to encourage me. He teaches me with positive reinforcement that when He says LEAVE IT, and then there is something better waiting for me when I follow Him. Maybe it is nothing more then not reaping any more pain, but that is enough. He is not trying to hurt or limit me, but to protect me. I think that is one of the hardest, but most valuable, lessons for the maturing Christian. God is not trying to limit you, He is protecting you. His reward/love is sweeter then any temptation that may pull you away, and when He tells us to LEAVE IT, He has reason, even if we do not and will not ever understand it. He is not protecting me because He is bored, and has nothing better too do, He is protecting me because I need it. I hope you have a great day and are as blessed today as I am, not because you have earned it but because you are blessed by God. Remember the lesson of James 1:13-18 - James 1:13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:16 Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. Temptation does not come from God, it comes from our own evil desires, but all good and perfect things come from the Father. When He tells you to LEAVE IT, do it and you will be blessed.