Hi everyone, my current name is Shelly and I was adopted by Jane back in 2019.  I have been a member of the St. Matthew by the Lake pet family for 6 years, since I was just a little kitten.  My previous owner, was also a member of St. Matthew by the Lake and in 2019, he left this life for a better one.  His name was Steve and he called me Tux.  I am a Tortoise shell cat and the name Shelly does fit with who I am and my unique colors.  All of us cats, humans and even dogs are unique.  God made us all different in how we look and the different talents that we have.  My biggest talent these days is to help Jane through this weird time and all the changes we have had to make due to this COVID-19 pandemic. I make her life more interesting and fun especially when she tries to knit or do anything at her desk.  Just imagine all the fun a cat can have with yarn. We all have to use our imagination these days.  Through our imagination we find unique ways to stay connected, to each other and to our Lord and Savior. Through it all I believe we discover talents and gifts God has given us that we previously did not realize we had. 
The apostle Paul says in Romans 12:6-7 We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us; prophesy, in proportion to faith, ministry ,in ministering; the teacher, in teaching  the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.
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​Hi everyone, my name is Porter, I live with Cheryl and Perley and I am a proud member of the St. Matthew by the Lake Pet Family. ¬†Cheryl and Perley care for many of us pets and we are not all kitties. As you can see by my pick, I am a dog. Cheryl and Perley include dogs in their pet family just like St. Matthew by the Lake includes all kinds of pets and people in its family. God includes many more kinds of creatures and people in God‚Äôs family.¬† We are all sizes, shapes, and colors which makes for a truly amazing family of God.
I almost forgot, I am the chief guard dog here at my house which might surprise some of you if you look at my size.  I am not a big German Shepherd like Mia or Zoe but I can still stand guard for Cheryl and Perley.  It is not always our physical size that equips us for guard duty.  God gives strength to us all and our faith is what matters most especially since it too is a gift from God.  Jesus says in Matthew 17:20 “…For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”