I heard them the moment I opened the back door at 3 am. Our geriatric schnauzer scurried to his favorite spot for a potty break, but I hesitated.
It was a whole pack of coyotes, yipping and howling, seemingly just on the other side of our six foot privacy fence. Using an exposed board as a step, I peeked over–into the pre dawn mist. Nothing.
Cooper, our little dog, paid his wild cousins no mind. Yet their eerie cries were unsettling. The only thing between us and them was a few hundred yards of open ground and a wooden fence. “Hurry up, buddy!”
Safely back inside, I remembered this cool product I found online called the Coyote Roller.
It’s a long piece of pipe that rolls under the paws of athletic interlopers. Thus, any frisky varmints who try to clear the fence are quickly returned to the ground.
Back in a warm bed, listening to a now snoring schnauzer, I pondered: “Is there a spiritual equivalent to the Coyote Roller?”
I found one a few hours later, over breakfast, sans coyotes. Revelation chapter 12 tells about a war in heaven. Michael and his angels fight against the dragon, satan and his angels, and prevail. Consequently, the devil and his buddies have to relocate. A voice comes over the loud speaker: “The accuser of our brothers has been hurled down.” Verse 11 reveals the power behind it:
They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
Revelation 12:11 (NIV)
Kind reader, the blood of Christ, the truths he taught, and our own resolve to hold onto faith, are more than enough to keep any “coyotes” out of the back yard. As a former pastor of mine liked to say, “If you’re willing to stand forever, you won’t have to stand for long.”
Thank you for reading. 🙏❤️
The first photo is by my friend, Gary Fultz. Check out his excellent nature shots here.
Davids Daily Dose 
Comments
42 responses to “Just Beyond the Gate”
We live on the edge of our little town, and the coyotes sometimes come pretty close! I have friends who live out in the country who tell stories much like the one you mentioned. The enemy of our souls has a similar M.O.–divide and conquer. Yes, thank God for his spiritual coyote rollers!
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David your analogy here is incredible. While on a fishing trip in the mountains this past summer, I got to know a fellow dog walking couple. They were describing their coyote challenges. The most disturbing being how the pack of coyotes in their area had begun to show up at twilight to lure dogs from the safety of their yards into a realm in which they could easily be attacked. So glad Cooper has a fence designed to protect him from the lure of the coyotes and that we too are equipped with a spiritual coyote roller.
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Thank you, Dawn. He is indeed!
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This was awesome! God is our Protector.
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I am deeply honored.
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Thank you, Gary. I love using your photos on my blog.
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Wow, love the coyote roller concept and I suspect the spiritual one works much better (100%).
I have a sister that loves that picture of the old green door on my mothers garden shed.
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Thank you, Manu. God Bless!
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Really like the spiritual lesson behind these coyote rollers.
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I hope you took it easy on the young lads, bruv. 😉
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I remember that post too…it was good too! Yesterday (Friday) was my regular chess club day.
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Thank you, brother. This post is a bit of a sequel to “When the Devil Plays Chess” that I wrote about a year ago. Blessings to you as well!
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Praise God our Father for shielding us from Satan’s “pesky varmints” – He is a Good God! Lovely illustration David, God bless you today brother 🙏
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You are welcome! God bless you!
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Yes, and AMEN! Thank you for stopping by. God Bless!
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What a concept of a coyote roller, that causes the enemy to retreat. Love our weapons of overcoming, the blood of the Lamb, the word of our testimony, and not loving lives so we do not shrink from death. The best coyote roller, ever!
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I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Thank you for reading and commenting. God Bless!
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Wow! The coyote roller completely set the stage for that verse in Revelation. It really hit home like never before. Thank you, David – loved this!
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Thank you, SimplyB. I decided to post five days of thanksgiving. I’ll return to my regular once a week schedule after tomorrow. Thank you for reading and sharing. God Bless!
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Love your daily doses this week. This one is outstanding. The blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony will safely lead us home. And also… Coyote roller?? We need one to protect our tiny shihpoo.
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The “Lord’s Leash” is for our good. That could be a post in itself. Thanks for reading and sharing, Pastor Pete. Blessings!
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Good thoughts Dave. Coyotes are everywhere even in our suburban community and the zoning doesn’t allow fences. So, the only protection our little four-footed friends have is staying on a leash connected to their masters.
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The “coyote roller” of faith. Amen, brother! “Not today, devil!”
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Thank you, Pastor Tim. God Bless!
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Amen, Manette Kay. The glory awaiting us far outweighs the momentary sufferings of this earthly life. Thank you for sharing! God Bless.
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I’d never heard of it either, until a pit bull kept getting over our fence and running around the back yard. Thanks for stopping by, Bridget!
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I love when God does this! He is so good!
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He writes well, too. I think it’s garyfultz.com
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Responding to your comment last night got me thinking about Coyote Rollers, and then I heard them early this morning! It was a God Wink for sure.
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Spiritual coyote rollers! Can I get an AMEN brothers and sisters?! I love the way your brain works under the guidance of the Holy Spirit!
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I enjoyed your post and Gary’s photos are stunning!
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I love the quote from your pastor friend––it’s encouraging and full of hope. Yeah, not much longer!
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Great read! I am thankful for God’s protection.
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The Coyote Roller is an awesome idea! I never heard of it. And the spiritual lesson is a good one too! Thanks, David!
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So very insightful! That will preach! This story challenges us! We are forced to deal with our fears! When that coyote yelps we depend on our “coyote roller,” it’s called faith. So much truth to be gleaned from this! Thanks Dave! Good preach/teaching!
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Interestingly enough, and while I’ve never come close to any coyotes (apart from in cartoons!) I had heard of those rollers that go at the top of a fence.
Great idea (and a brilliant analogy)
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Thanks, Betty. We live on the edge of a small town. The coyotes occasionally come rather close. Of course, you never see them, but it’s eerie!
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Thanks, Andy B. I started pondering the idea last night, after interacting with a sister blogger who lives on a Colorado ranch. Hearing the pack of varmints early this morning literally drove me to the computer to write!
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Right on, brother! One lion would make mince meat out of a whole pack of coyotes.
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Coyotes may howl but the Lion of Judah is on our side
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Very captivating post, David. And it reminds me of the saying, “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”
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Such a beautiful post…so much divine truth that needs to be stated!!
Superb my friend. Superb!!
Andy B
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