The Wild Cat Returns Home!
Those who keep up with our family know that our home is a haven for several of God’s creatures, including two pocket parrots, a large African Grey and two cats. Months ago, Jonathan’s cat ran away from the house through an open garage door, and was not seen again. Jonathan was distraught, and we asked the Lord to watch over the cat and eventually bring him home.
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Certainly God does care about the smallest among us and about his creation, as He watches the sparrows that fall (Matt. 10:29).
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We were completely unaware that our cat was in the neighborhood all the time! Although we never saw him, the neighbor who lives on the hill, Toby McKenzie, was actually feeding the stray cats that would come by his house. Included among these 15 cats, was an orange striped cat that would eat every day and then go on his way, hanging out with the other strays in the neighborhood
A few weeks ago, we received word of this orange colored cat that was at Toby’s house. Imagine our surprise and the thrill of discovering it was Aarom, Jonathan’s cat that had been gone for over three months! He recognized Jonathan when he approached and Jonathan was able to bring him to his car and eventually into the house. The other cat named Oreo saw him in the house and they began to hiss at each other. In fact it took several days for Oreo to accept Aarom back into the family. Honestly, it reminded me of the story of the Prodigal son, and how the brother living at home was angry and resentful that his brother had returned, after living wild in the world! (Ha). In this case, it was the prodigal cat!
Aarom has now settled back into the routine of being a cat in the Stone house and both of these cat brothers are now getting along like nothing ever happened. Just the other day Perry left the front door cracked open and there was Oreo looking at the front porch with what seemed to be the intent of running outside, I am sure to scope things out. Perry stopped him and moved him back into the living room. We did not need another prodigal roaming the hills at night with a bunch of wild cats!
Thus, just as we prayed for our pocket parrot to be found when he was lost in the woods, and before sunset he was back home, once again the Lord answered prayer and brought our stray back home! Certainly God does care about the smallest among us and about his creation, as He watches the sparrows that fall (Matt. 10:29).
Love and Prayers,
Along with this excitement comes the burden of paying for such a tremendous facility. As Perry has shared, we have been preparing for several years for this moment. Yet we are far short from having in place what is needed to complete and pay for this needed facility. This seems to be the way it has been for us from the outset of the ministry, anytime we’ve prepared to advance in any manner. We call it, “Walking by faith,” because that is certainly what it is!
The other day, one of my friends called to say she had a dream about me. She said I was in a huge house and she and I were talking while our two daughters were in another room playing. She said there were several people sitting around that seemed to be waiting for something. She said I went to my room to get ready and in a little bit she heard me call, “Ok, come and get it breakfast is ready!” At that moment she experienced an aerial view and saw so many young people getting in line for me to serve them breakfast. She was amazed how polite and orderly everyone was. When she looked at the food I was serving, it was a few eggs in a bowl and a few other things, but not nearly enough to feed all the youth in line. But no one was worried that they weren’t going to get food on their plates and there were still eggs in the bowl. In the dream she said it was as though God was going to multiply the loaves and the fishes again! She said no one was being served large amounts of food – but just enough for everyone to eat.
She asked if this meant anything to me. I told her that I believe it did. I believe through the dream the Lord was telling Perry and me that there is going to be enough to meet the needs. We would love to have the bowl filled up and overflowing as we step out, but faith is when you have half a bowl – and need a full bowl – and God has to provide the missing half! If the little lad had not “invested” his 5 loaves and 2 fishes into the hands of Jesus to break and bless them, he would have never seen a miracle. 5,000 people would have remained hungry and he would never have enjoyed the increase of 12 baskets left over! I believe God is going to take what we have and help to multiply it for His end time work. Every time I have to dip into the bowl to pay a contractor, I believe it will be enough until this Gathering Place is completed.
It has been amazing to see the changes in the lives of so many people and young people, at the Extreme on Tuesday nights and to witness their prayer lives on Thursday prayer night. Perry has commented to me, “Who ever dreamed we would have a call to a young generation after we turned 50?” Many of these youth need a spiritual Mamma and Pappa, so we came along just at the right time. We are enjoying every minute of our new vision!
Please get on board with us through your prayers and generous support and help make this miracle a reality! I want to thank those of you that have already responded and will continue to do so, and those to whom the Lord is going to direct at this time!
Love and Prayers,
