free...like a dog?

yesterday helped dad with the lawn after my dance work-out. felt so good to get some physical training, hoever little at a time. again, i tried to acquaint myself with the dog next door. he growled at me and moved away. dad says it's the most pitiful dog in the whole world. sometimes i'm pleasantly moved by dad's softness of heart. he can be grumpy and all, but underneath that roughness he's just...aww. he said that 'cause he sees the poor dog's chained to this rope all day long, for i forgot how many years. so he's only allowed to move within the circumference along the length of that rope to which he's so cruelly chained all of his life. no physical training for you, my friend :( is that what it means to be domesticated? chained up, angry, no trashing garbage bags, no exercise. you can't even pee and go for walks like most house dogs do. there was this patch of soil amidst the surrounding grass, worn out by his laying on it so often...so pitiful and friendless.

i'd never wanna chain my dog up like that (if you live close by where i live and you're reading this, pls don't chain ur dog up like that). it struck me how naturally the desire for freedom come to us humans. but we forget our pets need a fulfilled and free life too. (let's not go into a theological or detailed discussion about true freedom here, shall we? that is a whole different story for another day.)

abt my leave, last night God spoke to me through:
proverbs 21:31 ~ "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD."
psalm 32:8-9 ~ "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you."

in a dilemma of the most frustrating sort. many are the plans in a man's heart, but the LORD's purpose prevails. and i felt God say, janice you've planned many things, you've tried to put into place stuff you felt was important to prepare your journey, but without Me you will not win. you are a warrior, but you will have no victory apart from your Commander. He will watch over you and ensure you win. you go, at His instruction. not men's. at His word, every plan that He knows is best for you will remain, those that are not will fall apart. He does not control you like a puppet so you can choose the way you should go with understanding and own will, but He won't leave you alone. victory rests with the LORD. RESTS. (thank you, wini and eric, for your timely texts with these verses).

rest in the victory of the LORD. see His deliverance on your behalf when you go where He leads you by faith in painful and scary obedience.

there's so much freedom in that.