CAT SURVIVES 80-FOOT FALL
Associated Press
SUMMERVILLE, S.C. - Piper the cat may have used up a life or two but was unharmed after falling nearly 80 feet from a tree.
She had been in the tree for eight days when a rescuer started up to save her Monday. But a scared Piper crept away until the limb underneath her snapped.
She fell 80 feet, twisting and turning in the air before slamming onto the ground. It looked like a catastrophe, but Piper wasn't even dazed, scampering off before her owner Rodney Colvin could catch her.
Piper was found a few minutes later under a vehicle. Her owner said she had no broken bones and was only a little dehydrated.
photo courtesy google.images.com & story courtesy AP, 03/21/06
14The LORD helps the fallen
and lifts up those bent beneath their loads.
WHAT DOES TODAY'S VERSE TEACH US ABOUT OUR NEED TO DEPEND ON GOD?
How can a cat become so famous? By surviving an 80-foot fall! The fact that a video camera captured all the drama doesn't hurt either.
Being a cat owner once upon a time, I laughed when I saw this story because I know the toughness of a cat. If you have seen the video, you saw the cat spinning it's tail as if it it could suddenly become like a helicopter and live one more of it's "nine lives".
Yes, I see an illustration here of an incredible spiritual truth. As followers of Christ, we sometimes ignore our need of totally relying on His power every moment. Consequently, we find ourselves "out on a limb" and then falling. All of our efforts to be self-sufficient will leave us simply spinning out of control. Thanks to God's grace, our survival in not dependent on our efforts, but on Him.
If you are carrying your own burden, you're going to fall. You only have one life to live, not "nine". So let God carry you, catch you if needed, and get you back on your feet when necessary.
Thank God for the truth of today's scripture. Thank Him that He will bear your burden and lift you up when necessary. Praise God for His greatness, His mighty acts, His majestic deeds, His kindness, His mercy, His patience, His love and compassion, His sovereign rule, His way of meeting your needs, His promise to remain close to you, His promise to hear your cries and His promise to rescue you!
Confess the ways in which you ignore His power, live your life in your own strength and fall. Thank Him for His forgiveness. Ask Jesus to take you by His hand and give you the faith you need to trust Him moment by moment.
- Memorize today's verse as a reminder to depend on God every moment.
- Read all of Psalm 145 to learn more about Who God is and why you can and must trust Him.
- Whenever you see a cat falling out of a tree....never mind. Whenever you see a cat in the next week, let God remind you that He alone can keep you from falling.
Daily Devos is published Monday through Friday. Archives can be found at YFC.ORG. Its purpose is to help you apply truths from God's Word every day.
Our writer, Byron Emmert, has been involved with Youth For Christ for 30 years. He's served as Campus Life Staff, as a writer, and in leadership for the DCLA Conferences. Byron is married to Linda and their family includes two married sons and daughters-in-law, and a daughter in college. He loves sports, deep dish pizza, and spending time with his family.