​Hi everyone I’m Zoie, I live with Lucy and Lynn and I too am a member of the St. Matthew by the Lake Pet Family.  Lynn and Lucy really saved my life.  I was what some call a “failed adoption” and almost lost my life at the shelter. Lucy and Lynn came along just in time to adopt me and that saved my life..  I was not the easiest kitty to have when I came to live with Lucy and Lynn.  I had been abused and didn’t know that I could trust them. I actually had nightmares where my paws would jerk and I would cry in my sleep.  Those were difficult times. This May, it will be 8 years since I came to live with Lucy and Lynn and I have learned to trust them.  When we have been abused and/or heard harmful untruths about people or about God it becomes difficult to trust.  I had to experience the love and kindness from Lucy and Lynn for a long time before I let myself trust.  If you have someone who is having difficulty with their faith, trust and belief in God, please don’t give up on them.  Sometimes it takes those of us who have been hurt a long time before we come around and learn it is true that God loves us all with unconditional love.  Love so amazing that he gave us his son Jesus who gave his life for us all.

​Hi everyone I’m Taku the English lab and I come from a long line of pure bred dogs.  I am proud of my heritage and I just love people. And, I’m Arnie the hound and I am very different from Taku, Andy adopted me from a shelter and I am so glad he did.  My life before adoption by Andy was pretty rough.  We are members of the St. Matthew by the Lake Pet family and as you guessed it, we live with Andy.  Although we look very different and come from very different backgrounds we are still family.  You know it is great to be a member of a family and family is not all about blood lines.  When we came to live with Andy he treated us both as part of his family, it didn’t matter if one of us came from great breeding stock and one of us came from a shelter.  We are both loved.  God’s love is like that too.  God does not look at our outward appearance or our family tree.  God looks at our heart and we are all part of God’s family and God’s creation.  Now that is great news that is worth barking and howling about, even in the middle of this pandemic. Stay safe, and remember God loves us all with unconditional love and we are all part of God’s family.

Bog Post 7 Gemma
            Gemma here, yes that’s me.  I’m new to the St. Matthew by the Lake Pet family.  Carolyn recently adopted me and I am so happy she did.  I love to be close to Carolyn and receive all the love she is willing to bestow on me.  In the middle of this pandemic, I get a whole lot more attention, because it is better that we all shelter at home rather than run around in crowds and risk getting that nasty virus.  We can receive and show God’s love from home.  We can fold our hands and pray.  I have also heard that pastor Colleen has been looking into some technology that we can use to connect in other ways and even see one another on the screens of our computers or other devises all at the same time.  When she finds one that is secure and easy to use I am sure she will share it with all of us and we will become more connected despite this pandemic.  Before I sign off I’d like to leave you with a quote from Scripture.  I believe it is a great one to remember when that cabin fever flares up and tempers tend to get short.  “…be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32. 

Hi everyone, my name is Obie, short for Obadiah, you know the prophet Obadiah in the Old Testament. The book of Obadiah is rather short, only one chapter and 21 verses located right after the book of Amos and before the book of Jonah.  As you may already know, like all the other pets you have met I am member of the St. Matthew by the Lake pet family.  I’ve also got a case of cabin fever.  You know the feeling.  I’m tired of this sheltering in place and living with the same people day after day, no company, no time to go outside and chase birds or other creatures.   I live with Mary and Bob and like the sign by my picture says “I’m staying home because they won’t open the door.” Yes, they are sheltering because of a virus but I believe they are having me shelter too because of another creature that tried to greet me at the door.  It was one of those black ones with a white stripe down its back and a really bushy tail.  We are all trying to stay safe in the middle of this pandemic and I am doing my best to provide some love and entertainment for Mary and Bob.  I hope that you will remember that when we shelter and do our best to care for those we love we are also showing our love for God.

​Hi everyone, my name is Zeus and I am a proud member of the St. Matthew by the Lake pet family.  I live with Cheryl and Kent.  I came to live with Kent and Cheryl some time ago under some very interesting circumstances.  They went to the shelter to adopt another kind of dog and then, they came home with me.  I needed a home and I needed a new name. I rolled my eyes when they called me by the name given to me at the shelter.  When Kent finally called me Zeus I became his friend for life.  He knew my “real” name.  God also knows our real names and knows us all inside and out.  When the world tries to call us by other names it comforting to know that God knows us by our real names.  Along with this new name and home I now have my own couch where I am currently resting.  God wants us all to take time to rest. It would be great that those of us who are sheltering in place could take some time to rest more in the arms of our Almighty God.  Speaking of rest, its time for another nap.  So long for now.

​Have you heard the term PK for Pastor’s kid? Well, my name is Zoe and I am a PP, pastor’s pup. I live with Pastor Colleen and David.  I’m sure you all can tell I am a German Shepherd and a senior one at that.  I have been around for over 12 years and that is a long time for a Dog of my breed and size.  German Shepherds are a working breed and tasks like herding, shepherding, and guarding are in my blood.  You might think I am just relaxing at a random spot on this deck but that is not so. I am relaxing, but I’m also guarding the door to the garage and my bowl.  I am not a mean guard, I accept love and pets, and dearly love people.  I expect many of you know the Lord is also our shepherd and our guardian. In John 10:11 Jesus says “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”  Jesus as our shepherd and guardian shows much more love than I do.  He loves us so much he gave his life for us and rose again on the 3rd day.  Because of Jesus we have salvation.  Now that is awesome!

Hi everyone let me introduce myself.  I am Stormy and happy to be a featured member of the St. Matthew by the Lake pet family. I live with Steve and Lee. I know with a name like Stormy you might wonder if I have a rather “stormy” disposition but that is not at all the case.  I was found and rescued by Lee and Steve, at the church, in stormy weather. In return I love Steve and Lee and don’t hesitate to show my love through my snuggles and purrs and they continue to love me back. You know God through Christ rescues us from storms in this life, in return we love God and God continues to love us.  Sometimes God’s love and rescues from life’s storms come through the helping hand of a neighbor or even a stranger.  God has many ways of helping us through the storms of this life and this virus situation is no exception.  Keep your eyes on Jesus and with the help of Jesus we will get through this.  So long for now.

​Good morning my name is Sammy. I am a proud member of the St. Matthew by the Lake pet community and I live with Dianne and Howard. Don’t you just love this pose.  During this pandemic it is my job to give Dianne and Howard joy, crawl up on their laps and let them just love me all over.  You know, I am a gift from God and I can be a gift to you too.  Go ahead and love me virtually, think about petting my head and rubbing my tummy and don’t forget the treats.  I really love those.  You know there are advantages to loving me from a distance, I can’t leave hair on your clothes, or make you sneeze if you just so happen to be allergic to dogs.  Well, so long for now I hope some of the other pets out there will have their families share their pictures with Pastor Colleen so we can hear from them too.

This is a test blog.  I thought I would post an old picture of four of our church ladies.  Do you know who they are?