Your righteousness is like the highest mountain; Your judgments, like the deepest sea.
O Lord, You preserve man and animal.- Psalm 36:6

 

The Story of Gretchen

Our little Gretchen (white Maltese/Terrier) was born February 1977. We lost her on Halloween morning, October 31, 1993. She had cancer, a fast growing kind, but she was 16 and 1/2 years old and I knew each day I had left with her was another gift from God. We found out about the cancer in September and were told she probably had six weeks, which was exactly right. The vet wondered if we wanted to go ahead and put her to sleep. There was no way I could do it. Even as the weeks went on and her condition went downhill, I stayed in denial, taking her to the vet for every little thing, and telling the vet ‘just fix this and she'll be all better, I know it!’ He finally took me by the shoulders and told me to face it. There was nothing they could do for her. On Halloween, Gretchen lapsed into unconsciousness. The vet came to our house as neither I nor my husband could drive her to his office in the state she was in.

After six months of crying myself to sleep every single night, I finally admitted to God that I had kept her alive selfishly, and that I knew I should have made it easier for her. One night as I was in bed and my husband, a cop, was working the evening shift, I was still awake and crying. The lights were out and I said, "God, please tell her that I'm sorry I kept her too long. I would never do anything deliberately to hurt her. Please tell her I love her and miss her and I'm so sorry."  Immediately, in the dark room, I saw the sleeve of a robe with a hand held out, palm up, and in front of the hand, as if being presented to me, was Gretchen. Her white coat was now brilliant. So brilliant, that the space around her was illuminated. I heard a booming voice say, "She knows." Just those two words. She was healthy, ‘smiling’ and bouncing around as if to say, "Look at me! I'm all well! I can run and play and look how pretty my coat is!" After hearing God’s words and seeing her this way, the burden was gone. I was able to rest and to remember her without so much pain. I remember smiling as she faded away and knowing that she was okay and that I'd see her again. This happened in the Spring of 1994, just before Easter, and I still remember it so vividly.

A year or so after that, when we got Dillon, my husband had a dream one night that Gretchen was in the house. Dillon got up and went into the living room to talk to her. In his dream, my husband could hear them talking. Gretchen was telling Dillon about all the neat places to go in the yard and how he would be rewarded for doing certain things. She told Dillon that if we said ‘treat’ or ‘walk’ that he would really enjoy those. Gretchen said that she had a job now and it was her responsibility to welcome all the new arrivals. She said that she enjoyed her job because she remembered when she first got there she was a little scared. So she reassures them, puts them at ease, and shows them around. I love that dream. I'm glad he told me about it.

© Copyright Janice Frye



 

Update:

Janice passed away March  8, 2010 from kidney cancer.

In October of 2008, about 1 & 1/2 years before her passing, Janice was in the hospital with pneumonia. At that time, the doctors suspected some kind of cancer and were testing her for that possibility. Later, the tests came back negative, but Janice suspected differently because of a miracle she witnessed while in her hospital bed one evening. Because of that miracle, she felt in her heart that the Lord might take her Home. Janice could not talk very well because of a tumor (which they did not know about at that time) in her lungs so typing for a few minutes was the best she could do. In her letter, she spoke about two 'bodies' curling up beside her and Jesus sitting at the foot of her bed.. Those two 'bodies' were Dillon and Gretchen. Her precious letter is as follows:

Cheryl, I'm trying to get rid of 360 pieces of email, so please bear with me. I am able to sit at the computer for a few minutes. I couldn't talk well when you called the other night and there was something OF ULTIMATE IMPORTANCE that I wanted to tell you, but I had to wait. I think it might be better to take a few minutes to type it out.

First of all, please thank everyone for their wonderful prayers. We know they work. I think I told you that I was convinced I had cancer when I went into the hospital, and once there, it took days to do the tests and get an answer. They kept me on Xanax (as I requested) so I could at least get some sleep.

I THINK it was the night before the doctor came in to tell me there was no cancer, but I'm not certain. I had just turned out the light and adjusted my bed to try and get comfortable and maybe get some sleep. I don't remember whether I had already begun my prayer or not. But as I lay there, I felt something on the bed. It felt like someone had come in and sat down at the foot of the bed on the side, just where my son would sit when he came to visit. I remember opening my eyes and seeing no one there. Xanax, right? It had to be! Then, almost immediately, I realized that something extraordinary was happening, I felt TWO smaller "bodies" at my waist, one CURLING UP on either side of me. Cheryl, it was as if Jesus sat down and brought Gretchen and Dillon with him, and they "wrapped me in peace" and stayed with me to comfort me. I went to sleep immediately. That was one of the most wonderful things that has ever happened to me and it was something that I will never, ever forget.

Please feel free to share this with the wonderful people who have been praying for me. I think they will also benefit from this testimony.

Love you, Janice



Janice Frye with "Buckshot"

If you can, please read Janice's story about "The Cross"

 


 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
Hebrews 1:14

This scripture is not talking about angels. There is a difference between an angel and a ministering spirit.
If there is a body, there is a soul, and that soul has a spirit, according to scripture.

 

 

 

"How can anyone be foolish enough to think that an animal has no soul
or that God's compassion is so narrow, He provides no place for them in heaven."
Cheryl Taul

 

 

 

It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
I Corinthians 15:44

 

 

Because He Lives!

Because our Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross in our place for the sins of the world and rose again, we not only, through our faith in Him, have a place in Heaven, but we become a 'new' person....we become more like Christ as we strive to die to the flesh and allow Him to have His way in our lives. Because He lives we are promised eternal life and must be faithful to that calling. Because He lives our wildest dreams will come true. Because He lives His promises for us are attainable. There is more to God's Word than surface scripture. There are deep mysteries that God wants to reveal to those who search for them.

Paul says, "yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away, but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages, to our glory". (I Corinthians 2:6-7)

There will come a time when it will be impossible to be lacking faith or evil to dwell in our presence. God has made a covenant. An oath, not only to His children, but to all animals during Hosea's time which was roughly 700 years before Christ. God's oaths are not broken nor does He change His mind. They are a binding agreement that cannot be altered. . . .

"In that day," declares the Lord, "you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me 'my master.' I will remove the names of the Baals from her (His Bride's) lips; no longer will their names be invoked. In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the creatures that move along the ground. Bow and sword and battle I will abolish from the land, so that all may lie down in safety. I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord." (Hosea 2:16-20)

Here is a deeper truth of God’s Word concerning all of creation. These scriptures are talking about our future glory when the New Heaven and the New Earth are in place. Christ, through Paul, also talks about creation eagerly awaiting for this future hope along with us…..the day when it will be changed from mortality and clothed in immortality.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. (Romans 8:18-25)

 God has amazing things to tell us; Things about Him that we did not know; Things about us and our future that He wants us to know; Things previously hidden, things private that are just between us and our Lord. Wonderful things.

"From now on I will tell you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you. They are created now, and not long ago; You have not heard of them before today. So you cannot say, ‘Yes I knew them.’ You have neither heard nor understood; From of old your ear has not been open." (Isaiah 48:6-8)

He loves all that He creates and animals were created before mankind. His Word is full of scripture pertaining to how much He loves them and cares for them. When Jesus was born into this world, God chose the company of Mary, Joseph and the barn animals to be the first ones to lay eyes on our Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; You will find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. (Luke 2:12)

 As Jesus entered Jerusalem, he entered on a donkey. He did not enter on foot with His disciples but chose the lowliest of animals to carry Him in. Why? Because the donkey was a sign to His People and to the world that He was humble and lowly in spirit, meek and mild. He was, and is, the King of peace. He entered this world as a servant to mankind as an example for us.

Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written: "Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!" (John 12:14-15)

God teaches us that animals minister to us in different ways and are life-savers when God chooses them to be if we stray off the path God sets before us.

Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat her to get her back on the road. Then, the angel of the Lord stood at a narrow path between two vineyards, with walls on both sides. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat her again. Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she laid down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat her with his staff. Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?” Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.” The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” “No,” he said. Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell face down. The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared her.”
(Numbers 22:22-33)

When He comes again he will ride on a white horse. He chose the horse to represent power and fierceness.

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he will judge and make war.  And the armies which are in Heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. (Revelation 19:11&14)

If the Son of God who is all powerful and yet chooses be born in human likeness among urinating animals, grow up and teach us, laugh with us, cry with us, heal us on a daily basis and ultimately die on the cross in our place so that we have an open entrance into Heaven through faith in Him, and yet has the compassion to place vipers and all of His creatures on the New Earth that He will ultimately create, don't you think we can hold our pets once again and forevermore?

The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:6-9)

Since ancient days, humans took it for granted that they go to Heaven and animals die without a second glance from God. But He states otherwise and wants us to contemplate this....

Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and the spirit of the animal goes down to the earth? (Ecclesiastes 3:2)

Yes, the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even at thy altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God. (Psalm 84:3)

Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground without your Father knowing it. (Matthew 10:29)

Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. (Luke 12:6)

God says in His Word that animals know their master and their master's home, yet His own people do not even recognize Him. God credits animals with having more knowledge and understanding than His own people have.

Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth! For the Lord has spoken: "I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner's manger, but Israel does not know; my people do not understand." (Isaiah 1:2-3)

No one here on earth can know the joy our Father holds for us when we get to Heaven.

However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him."
(I Corinthians 2:9)

I think I should mention that the newer bible translations are removing the word 'soul' and replacing it with the word, 'life.' There is definitely a difference between the two.

In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. (Job 12:10)

God has created the animals out of the dust just as He created man. And God breathed His Spirit into animals just as He did with man. So how can anyone say that an animal has no soul or a spirit?

Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. (Genesis 2:7)

Speaking specifically about animals of all kinds. . .

O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures. When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. When you send forth Your Spirit, they are created and you renew the face of the ground. (Psalm 104:24 & 29-30)

When someone asks whether or not animals go to Heaven, show them scripture. If they say they don't believe it, then walk away and leave them to their immense stupidity. And for those who do not understand the compassion of God when they say their pets are in 'doggie heaven' or 'cat heaven' please understand that there is more than enough room in 'Heaven' for us all. God loves what He creates so intensely. He gave us authority over all animals to love, care for and for them to help us.

A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel. (Proverbs 12:10)

The fact that Jesus died in our place and rose again is evidence that He will go to any length to protect and preserve what rightfully belongs to Him. He is, and always will be more than any human mind can comprehend. . . .Because He Lives!

 

 

 

For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
I know all the birds of the mountains, And the wild beasts of the field are Mine.
Psalm 50:10-11

 

 

Story "Gretchen" and photographs © Copyright Rick and Janice Frye.
Used with their written permission.

 

 

 

 

                         

 

Midi "Che Sara"