I remember it so clearly.

Several years ago, I was asked to lead a dinner prayer.

I prayed for many things, our military personnel, the military chaplains, families, the Congress and…President Trump.  Immediately a man vocalized his deep disagreement.

I kept on praying, not absolutely sure what happened. Later, it became clear of his deep disagreement about praying for the current president.

But Scripture teaches this; it’s not a personal matter.

“I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions,” (1 Timothy 2:2).

The immediate next verse is most instructive: “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior…”

Praying for all people, including “kings and all who are in high positions,” pleases our dear Lord.

Personnel preference or policy agreement or disagreement has no play here. That government official needs God’s help.

I didn’t get the chance to speak to that dear person who immediately showed his disagreement.

Is there a deeper lesson here?

Keep a level head; own a tender heart, softened by His Word and Spirit.

And, pray for all.

A child of God owns confidence that God will do His work.

And, He actually considers your counsel, being in His family, as you are.

At first, you don’t get it...

A dog used for church work.

Well, you hear stories, lots of them...national and local ofGracie.

Sitting in a restaurant. Gracie takes her customary place atthe feet. Two women enter.

Suddenly she goes over, placing her head on a knee.

The woman erupts in tears; she had just lost her dog.

Uncanny? Coincidence?

A little research brings discovery.

Dr. Stanley Coren, of the University of British Columbia,writes that dogs are able to smell a person’s emotional state. They even mayadopt this emotional state.

Others call this a “social referencing,” a dog’s ability towatch, sense and even to interpret behavior.

Lizards, mice, eagles don’t own this ability. God didn’tpencil this into their design sheet.

No evolutionary accident here. God did it.

This imprint mirrors His own heart, full of the “tendermercy of God,” (Luke 1:78).

Indeed, Jesus is humanity’s “best friend,” (see John 15:15).

Step back a bit. Ponder.

God’s heart for you is revealed in His detailed design ofdogs.

Gracie died this past Sunday. Memories of thankfulnessabound. Doors were opened for Gospel telling by her handlers.

This is a cause to rejoice.

So goes the general attitude around us.

A House Hunters episode (HGTV) showed a “throuple,” seekinga house in Colorado Springs.

What is a “throuple?” Per this show, one man and two women,this makes a marital couple.

But Jesus’ attitude is far different. He states in Matthew5:19 that whoever “relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teachesothers to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.”

“Relax” means “to lessen the force” or “to downplay theirimportance.”

Jesus is a stickler for His Word, all of it, every bit ofit, every “iota” or “dot,” (Matt. 5:18). He permits no water-downed teaching. Amarriage is a marriage, His way or no way.

No one goes to the doctor if they don’t think they’re sick.And a water-downed Ten Commandments results in a diminished need for spiritualhelp from the Great Physician.

Church attendance then becomes an option, the last option,if I feel like it.

Forgiveness of sins, its desperate need, doesn’t even register.

Clueless, just like the frog in a slowly heated pan ofwater.

Don’t fall for this propaganda.

Be wise.

Jesus knows best.