“And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.”  Philippians 1:6  NLT

I often think of the wonderful work of nature I see in Famous. Most of what I see is the result of careful breeding for his form and his temperament. He is the “bench” variety of springer spaniel, bred for shape and show. His cousin, the “field” variety is the dog used for hunting. But beyond his outward appearance he has also received a sweet disposition, able to give and receive affection, excellent around children, and eager to please. Dogs grow up quickly and now Famous is middle-aged, just like me. I have been able to watch his successful growth and development under my care through the years, and it has been rewarding.

Famous reminds me that God has a plan for my life. He continues to watch over my instruction and ministry, leading me in paths of service. I have strengths which He has given to me to use for his glory, and I have weaknesses which He is helping me to overcome. The success of God’s work within me depends on my willingness to serve Him and to make my heart and mind obedient to Him.

I pray today, God, that you will show me the great blessing I can be when I allow You to work through me. 

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you!”  Isaiah 26:3  NLT

For me, one of the greatest joys was holding Famous in my arms those first few weeks as a puppy. He took refuge and comfort having me near. As he grew older, cuddling him in my arms became more problematic. Springers are medium-sized dogs and do not make good lap dogs. But I soon realized whenever I would take a seat, his head would be near my hand waiting for a pat. And when I would watch television, I would abandon the sofa for a seat on the floor so that Famous could curl up beside me. That is when you could notice an audible sigh from him professing the peace he was feeling.

The peace I feel when I am connected to my heavenly Father is similar in fact. It allows me to completely let go and give myself over to the comfort and protection of my Creator. All worries melt away, and for the moment I am in perfect peace.

Grant me the peace that can only come from You.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.”  Proverbs 3:5-6  NLT

The neighborhood quiets down at night, so occasionally Famous gets to take his late walk with me off of his lead. He usually stays close by, and keeps a distance of only a few yards. When we encounter an intersection or a cul-de-sac he looks to see which way I am heading. Even if he is a little ahead of me, he will look back to see which way I point for him to turn. He knows we are better as a team, or in his mind a pack, and it is beneficial to work together.

It seems that trusting someone with more experience, wisdom, and understanding would be an easy choice for us to make. Why is it, then, that we so often forget to ask for God’s guidance? Instead, we rush into unknown territory in the darkness and find ourselves in dangerous or costly surroundings.

The heart is the source of our trust in God. By repeatedly opening the heart to his counsel, we discover the true path is not necessarily the one we would have chosen. But I believe it can be as instinctive as Famous choosing to follow my lead.

Guide my heart, my will, and my feet today, O God.

“Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”  Psalm 27:14  NLT

How patiently Famous at times waits for me! I am sure when it is time for me to clip him he would much rather be somewhere else. Imagine how hard it would be to groom him if he fought me during the whole process, not to mention the disastrous results! But instead, with only a small amount of encouragement, he waits patiently while I use clippers and comb and scissors on his ears, neck, and feet.

How patient are we to allow God to work with us each day? Is it not a better plan to start each day focused on quiet reflection on how we might look for his guidance? It certainly does not take much in a busy world to be distracted from God’s voice. And though it is easy to want to do things our own way, it takes more courage to allow God to reveal his plan in his time. Certainly, God knows the best way to cultivate our gifts and use them for his purposes which in turn bring us the greatest blessing.

Teach me to be patient, God, that I might grow in courage and allow You to direct my day.

“And now, dear children, continue to live in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.”  I John 2:28  NLT

Reunions with those we love are joyous. Even the daily reunion with Famous after a day’s work is a true celebration for us both. The reunion would not be so happy if our bond were not based in trust and daily fellowship. Nurturing our relationship has been fun, looking for new places to explore and finding new ways to see the world.

Our reunion with Christ will be the most joyous celebration of all! How will we find the courage to be prepared to participate in his coming? The answer is by appreciating and enjoying the fellowship of fellow believers. Otherwise, we are in danger of not recognizing our Lord when he returns. How we live in fellowship with one another becomes the rehearsal for the day when we will see our Savior face to face and know in our hearts that we belong with him.

Dear Jesus, help me to recognize You in your children around me so that I may better know your face.

“I assure you that you can say to this mountain, ‘May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,’ and your command will be obeyed. All that’s required is that you really believe and do not doubt in your heart.”  Mark 11:23  NLT

I remember the first day Famous saw the ocean. He looked at me as if he were thinking, “Is this real?“ Then, once off of his lead he was racing out along the beach, warm, soft sand under his paws. Then with the hot sun on his back, the runs in and out of the surf were as playful as any game he had ever played. It was a glimpse into dog heaven! I mused that he must be thinking, “Can we get one of these in our backyard?“ It was totally worth the thirty minutes it took to rinse the sand out of his fur.

The faith Famous has in me must be far greater than my faith in God. In order to move a mountain, it seems no doubt in my heart has to exist. And yet, I know I doubt every single day. It is this doubt, however, which encourages me to struggle in my faith, one which is also daily renewed. I understand that my joy, by way of faith in God, can be as wonderful as Fame’s day on the beach.

Lord, I place my trust in You. Open my heart to faith that I may know the true joy of celebrating life with You.

 

“Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge.”  Psalm 16:1  NLT

Part of the duty of being a responsible pet owner is giving your dog a safe environment. And yet Famous exhibits instinctive habits which tell of a time when canines had to protect themselves. Because his ancestors found safety in protective surroundings such as caves, Famous will resort to retreating beneath the bed, table, desk, or chair whenever he feels the need for an extra sense of security.

For example, he daily settles under the table as I leave each morning. He sulks under the same table when I run the vacuum. He climbs under the bed whenever he suspects I am preparing his bath. And when he was able to accompany me to work, you would often find him sleeping underneath my desk.

We have a retreat as well. It is into the arms of God. I find this to be a natural instinct–to return to the safety of my Creator. There I find truth, understanding, comfort, and strength to resolve the tensions building in my life. God continues to protect me.

Let me rest in your arms today, God. Keep me safe from my enemies.

“That is why we live by believing, not by seeing.”  II Corinthians 5:7  NLT

You have heard the scripture quote “live by faith and not by sight.“ I am reminded of it many times in a world that chooses to follow the other rule: seeing is believing. Famous is the one who reminds me seeing is not always believing. He prefers to follow another rule: looks can be deceiving. Because a dog’s sense of smell is far superior to his sense of sight, the proof is in the smell.

There are many signals that I have arrived home: the sound of the car pulling into the driveway, the sequence of key to lock maneuvers, and the familiar sound of my voice. But with all of these clues added to the sight of me coming through the door, Famous always greets me with several sniffs to prove I am who he thinks I am.

Christians have a daily walk of faith which is not always easy to see. The apostle Paul understood that science, what we can see, could never explain our connection to God which transcends our earthly bodies. Faith is the ingredient which helps the believer “know” his true Master.

God, strengthen my faith today that I may better see the path You have set before me.

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you!”  Isaiah 26:3  NLT

Although I have previously described Fame’s attachment as a Velcro dog, meaning he wants to know where I am all the time, he can also be independent and do his own thing. He may go out to sit on the deck or take a snooze on his bed as long as my activity is within earshot. But when I plop down in a chair to watch television or drink my coffee, he takes the opportunity to solicit a scratch behind the ear or a belly rub.

But often in the early morning, as we are starting the day, he will approach with apparently no other agenda but to be close to me. He will sometimes put his front paws up in my lap just to receive a hug. Perhaps in some way he is offering a hug as I am about to depart for a busy day out in the world.

This is such a peaceful moment it casts out all worry and fear of the day which lies ahead. Such is the peace offered by God to anyone who will trust him and allow him to guide their thoughts. But His is a perfect peace which can heal, protect, and direct.

As this morning breaks, Lord, settle my thoughts and my concerns and use me to direct others to Your peace.

“Let me hear of your unfailing love to me in the morning, for I am trusting you.”  Psalm 143:8  NLT

Not only does Famous enjoy his morning walks, he can be very enthusiastic to cross the street and leave our development. He knows there are even more wonderful scents in the park than along our neighborhood curbs. The only problem is the street we cross is a busy connector street in our city. During rush hour we would have to wait minutes for a chance to cross the street. And when there is little traffic, people are notorious for driving over the speed limit through that stretch of road.

For a dog eager to get to the park this is potentially disastrous. So our custom has become for me to always tell Famous to sit before we cross the street. He has learned to wait for my command when it is time to cross. He may only see the command as it leads to the reward of getting to the park. I know it offers a higher level of safety and control, and it lets drivers know we are in a stationary position.

What if we saw each day as an opportunity to cross the street–only we would be waiting for God to give us the O.K. to proceed with our plans? Then He could guide us around unseen dangers and demonstrate his love for us.

Teach me to wait for You, Lord, to direct me where and when I am needed today.”