“Messenger of  good news, shout to Zion from the mountaintops! Shout louder to Jerusalem–do not be afraid. Tell the towns of Judah ‘Your God is coming!'”  Isaiah 40:9  NLT

“He’s home! He’s home!” This is the essence of what I feel Famous is trying to communicate to me whenever I pull into the driveway. No matter if I have been away for half an hour or most of the day, he wants me to know he is waiting for our reunion. The sense he brings to the moment is one of relief: “You came back! You did not forget me!”

Imagine, after Israel’s history of enslavement and exile, her ability to release all fear and worry to the point of shouting for joy, “God is coming!” Years of oppression and burden would be cast away. Life would have a new zeal, a new purpose.

This is the gospel for the whole world. There is a Master who cares enough  to be involved in our lives and who can abolish all the fears that bind us. Our futures are secured. We can rest in his arms.

Dear God, let my actions today proclaim the good news of your remembrance of me!

 

“What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!”  II Corinthians 5:17  NLT

I had always called myself a dog lover. But except for family pets when I was a boy I had never had a dog until I was nearly fifty years old. My reasoning was I was too busy to give a pet the attention it deserved. When at last I saw the opportunity to raise a puppy within the constraints of my career and hobbies, I started carving out a daily routine that could accommodate a dog. Then I began researching different breeds, and I read manuals on how to raise and train a puppy.

Needless to say, my life changed after I brought Famous home. I had to buy a vehicle which would hold a dog crate. I began to meet neighbors who had previously acknowledged me only by a hand wave. I had to endure months of getting up in the middle of the night to let him relieve himself. And then other people began to recognize how I truly loved this animal.

The new life which Christ gives is even more transforming. The world is re-ordered. Priorities change and a life of vision begins. But just as my decision to spend part of my years with a dog was intentional, so is the choice to allow Christ to re-create you.

Lord, help me to prepare for your transforming work in my life. 

“If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.”  Psalm 139:9-10  NLT

One of the most adorable features of most spaniel breeds are their long, soft, pendulant ears. They jostle and swirl and frame the pensive faces of these dogs. Whenever a stiff wind occurs on our daily walks, Famous’ ears fly straight behind him as if they were wings about to give him flight. (He could demonstrate the same effect whenever I would allow him to hang his head outside the car window on our way to the park.)

No matter how far away one has gone across the globe or across the vast chasm of sin away from God, He is there to guide and to forgive. The knowledge that we are not alone gives us strength and hope. We can be lifted up from the brink of despair.

Famous reminds me over and over again that I am not alone. His flying ears remind me of God’s love and support.

I know I will need your support today, God. Thank you for guiding me through the day which lies ahead. 

“Our lives are a fragrance presented by Christ to God.”  II Corinthians 2:15a  NLT

How many designer colognes are there on the market today? The answer is not limited to the number of celebrities nor the companies eager to invest in them. But that number is only a drop in the ocean when compared to the sacrificial lives poured out as a fragrance in service to the Lord.

Dogs probably know us better by scent and sound than by visual recognition. In their world we are a complex recipe of smells and odors. They can tell if we have bathed recently, but they also know what we had for lunch by the residue they smell on our hands and clothing, or if we have unfaithfully played with another dog on our way home. Some dogs have been bred to track us hours after we have left with nothing more than impressions in a grassy field.

In making us unique individuals with unique fingerprints, ideas, and passions, God is faithful to remember and know each of us as his own children. When we recognize our own unique compositions and give them up in sacrifice, then indeed God is pleased.

I dedicate my unique self to you, God, as a living sacrifice. 

“When I had lost all hope, I turned my thoughts once more to the Lord.”  Jonah 2:7a  NLT

God’s love and power can pierce the darkest gloom and misery that descend upon our lives. The fear of disability and isolation drives many people to the brink of despair. What once may have been a comfortable existence can suddenly become filled with pain and depression.

Because life is precarious, it is necessary to see the grace of God in each moment. The ability to find small miracles in our daily lives strengthens the bond we have with God. We can use all of our senses to gather evidence of God’s presence in a shining moon, a whiff of freshly fallen snow, or a mended relationship.

The unconditional love given by a dog is a reminder of God’s nearness. No matter how brutal the day has been, the welcome I receive from Famous reassures me and helps me remember the One who gave him to me.

You are my hope, Lord. Help me to see your footprint today. 

“Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death?”  Romans 8:35  NLT

If you are a pet owner, think about how much you love him. As a responsible pet owner, do you not make every arrangement to see he is fed, warm, and safe? When the two of you are separated for more than a day, does your affection not grow deeper? In response to the care we give our pets, they develop an assurance when they are at home with us. They know they belong. We have been given the same assurance by Christ’s sacrifice for us.

Love is the great liberator, and I choose to believe God has given me this wonderful experience with my dog, Famous, so that I might have a glimpse of the love He has for me. Christ gave his life for us. His sacrifice should amaze us each day.

Lord, I know my needs are met each day by you. Free me from the fear of want today. 

“One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying.”  Acts 16:14  NLT

Training classes for dogs rely on the owner’s ability to help the animal focus and respond with predictable behavior. In puppy classes with Famous, I learned to do this with a loud “clicker” and with treats. When Famous listened to my voice or followed my hand signals, I would simply click and treat. I was amazed how quickly he could learn “tricks” even in a store filled with other barking and whining dogs.

There is a lesson here for all of us. We cannot worship God without listening to Him. This involves more than hearing the preached words of a sermon. It involves opening the heart and examining the emotions and motivations that drive our responses. It also involves focusing on His voice amidst the din of our everyday lives. Our reward will be a more spiritual life blessed with the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Open my heart, Lord, and help me to listen for your voice. 

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you.”  I Peter 5:7  NLT

I brought Famous home as a puppy. The first week that summer was so much fun! I did not even mind the midnight trips outside to assist with the house training. But after the first week his energy level dropped as an infection set into his respiratory system.

The veterinarian was baffled, but antibiotics were prescribed. Then his appetite waned, and even the breeder’s advice was not beneficial in getting him to eat. IV fluids were given the next week as he began to lose what little weight was on his small furry frame. Then new antibiotics were ordered. Finally, when he could barely pick himself up off of the floor, I felt it was necessary to force feed small morsels of food to the poor guy. A few days later his energy level was noticeably improved and his strength began to return. His appetite increased and his congestion abated.

Through the crisis I realized how much I cared for him and had been caring for him even before I brought him home. Yet, the love I had quickly developed for this puppy was nothing compared to the care God has for you and for me. Knowing God cares affords us a marvelous courage and peace in times of trouble.

Heavenly Father, I cast all of my cares and doubts upon you. Thank you for loving me enough to handle even my most insignificant worry.

“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again–rejoice!”  Philippians 4:4  NLT

It is easy to interpret a dog’s tail-wagging eagerness as joy whether or not it is anything similar to the human emotion. Once my dog is presented with the prospect of getting outside (regardless of rain showers, snow storms, or even sweltering summer heat) his enthusiasm is demonstrated without fail. Our path is usually the same, since I live in a cul-de-sac, and Famous has his customary landmarks. But, despite the repetition, he has yet to exhibit anything other than what I would call “glee” whenever we head to the door.

I have speculated if my days could also improve if I found that same enthusiasm heading out the door to work, meetings, and even church. Certainly, there would be a new appreciation for what is possible. Just as a dog finds ample evidence of change throughout our small neighborhood, I should be seeking the God-given clues in my day for direction, fulfillment, and enjoyment.

Dear Lord, I rejoice in this day. I rejoice in the awareness of your Presence. 

“For the spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”  Job 33:4  NLT

For the duration of our lives on earth, the Creator grants us daily breath that sustains us and enables us to exist in our bodies of flesh. And unless we are on life support or burdened with chronic lung disease, we go about our daily routines taking this life-sustaining gift for granted!

About the time I brought home my puppy, I had begun taking yoga classes. I had no idea how important the breath is to the practice of yoga. It is through the breathing one can find the greatest concentration  and relaxation. It truly requires an appreciation for the air that is constantly moving in your body.

Besides being a great inspiration for perfecting the yoga position “down-facing dog,” Famous also showed great interest in the sounds of my daily breath. He noticed the changes in my respiratory rate and lung volume each morning as I awoke and would watch me instinctively for my first stirrings.

If God could create such attentiveness in one of his creatures, how much more then is He aware of every breath we take? And could He possibly be so interested were it not also his plan to offer us everlasting breath and life?

Renew me today, Lord, with your Holy Spirit. Remind me of the precious gift contained in each of the breaths I take!