“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that he will stand upon the earth at last.”  Job 19:25  NLT

No matter the number of times Famous sees me preparing to take out the garbage, he goes into his happy dance. He knows the garbage bag does not sit on the kitchen floor (much to his chagrin) and that soon the door will open to the backyard with all of its glories. He runs through the living room tossing one of his stuffed toys in the air, wagging his tail madly with anticipation, waiting for his chance to accompany me to the trash can.

The certainty of the living Christ brings a joyous assurance. This assurance guides us in our choices, our actions, and our responses. It is a shared satisfaction among believers knowing we have this common faith. No matter the number of times we are confronted by our awareness of a Redeemer, we are plunged into His mercy and grace with humility and thanksgiving.

Jesus, continue to thrill me until You spill over into my day.

“Follow anything that makes you want to do right. Pursue faith and love and peace, and enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.”  II Timothy 2:22b  NLT

Who says dogs can’t go to church? In October, near the day of Saint Francis of Assisi, you can probably find a local congregation that celebrates a worship service called The Blessing of the Animals. I have led such a service in which participants bring all manner of God’s creatures for a blessing. Dogs, cats, hamsters, ponies–all are welcome. I have even had a turtle in attendance!

One of the sweetest parts of the ceremony comes when the pet owners can share an expression of thanks or a story such as how the pets came into their lives. Then we quickly discover that we are the ones who are blessed everyday by these creatures. In many cases it is obvious that an animal can supply much needed gifts of companionship, therapy, and protection. The service allows us to acknowledge that all good gifts come from our heavenly Father.

For me, Famous is a wondrous embodiment of the gift of life that only God can give. By honoring that gift with love and protection, I am honoring God. By helping others to find a pet, or whatever it is in life that reminds them of God’s presence, I am serving God.

Lord, teach me to enjoy life by finding You in life!

“I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again.”  II Timothy 1:4  NLT

Springers are companion dogs. (Some call them Velcro dogs.) This contributed to the separation anxiety Famous exhibited in my first efforts to leave him alone. Even though he would sleep and travel in his crate as a puppy, leaving him in the crate unattended in the house turned out to be a terrible solution. When I would return home after leaving him crated for a few hours, I would find him completely spent, sweaty, and sometimes bloody from either trying to free himself or trying to come after me. As little as he was, he had shifted his crate across the entire floor to the opposite side of the room. He and the room looked like a disaster. It took several weeks (and several claw marks in the front door) for him to eventually trust me to leave him alone in the house (but outside of his prison).

I remember those sad, desperate puppy yelps. Now when I have to leave him alone, he calmly goes directly under the dining room table to watch me leave with no protest. However, the joy we have when I come home is always a celebration!

Separation can be difficult, especially if it is forced. I truly believe, however, that any separation from God arises from our part and not God’s. He is the eternal Father waiting for the prodigal child to come home.

Dear God, help me to become a “Velcro” disciple.

“But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive everything promised to us who are right with God through faith.”  Galatians 5:5  NLT

I read that it is important to talk to your puppy/dog so that he will know your voice, your mood, and a fair amount of vocabulary. (This was quite a change for me when it was normal for the first words each day out of my mouth to be “Good morning” to my secretary. Now a couple of hours before I leave the house I am not only greeting Famous but also explaining how the day is going to go and what time I will be home for dinner.)

One of those special words is “walk.” Famous hears it and understands, even if delayed, it is eminent. It is a promise of a wonderful world where he can stretch his legs, spot a squirrel or rabbit, and catch up on the latest “smell-mail” sent between dogs. Not much compares when it comes to making him happy.

The happiness of Christians is one of a shared faith. Faith that the wonderful blessings of peace, love, and joy are promised through our obedience to God. We should be equally eager to walk through each day anticipating the joy of heaven on earth as we are to one day sharing heaven in God’s presence.

Father, make me eager to cherish your promises.

“Jesus shouted to the crowds, ‘If you trust me, you are really trusting God who sent me.”  John 12:44  NLT

Trust and obedience go hand in hand. I can tell Famous to sit and stay, and as long as I have him in a safe environment, be it at home, in a store, or in a hotel room, he will obey and allow me to go from his sight–because he trusts that I will return. Each time I do this, I reinforce the assurance in his trust.

Our trust in the Lord can only come if we are obedient to him. I am not speaking of the obedience to the pulpit as much as I am speaking of obedience to our God-given consciousness. Yes, it is imperfect, and yes, the Ten Commandments are a great way to start, but we have to learn that every decision and every act must be based in the model and teachings of Christ. Our obedience to follow Christ is translated into trusting God with our lives, our well-being, and our eternal salvation.

Father, help me to realize each step today should be a step of faith. 

“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me.”  John 10:14  NLT

Whether I have been away a few hours or a few days, Famous is ready to give me an excited greeting when I return. How does he know I am the one opening the door and not a stranger? To be sure, we have our routine so he expects me to return about the same time on most days. But then He also recognizes my car by sight and sound, and when I pull in front of the house I can see him jumping from his perch in the front window to run to the door. Finally, as if the sight of me and the sound of my voice were not enough, he takes a big whiff to verify beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am the one returning.

How good is a dog‘s sense of smell? It is estimated a dog’s sense of smell could be millions of times more sensitive than our own. So while it may appear that Famous is just checking my ID, he is probably discovering what I had for lunch and if I petted the poodle up the street.

We are uniquely loved and identified by Christ, the good shepherd. Were that our sense of awareness of him was magnified a million fold!

Christ, help me to find You and know You throughout the day ahead.

“He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need there is.”  Acts 17:25b  NLT

Dogs differ from children in that a child grows into adulthood to lead his or her own life, whereas dogs are dependent upon you from when you bring them home as puppies all the way into their golden years. Anticipating the changing needs of nutrition, activity, and perception can help both of you to navigate the different stages of a dog’s life.

Famous recently began exhibiting a stumble during our daily walks. I suspected it was due to the impact to his shoulder from years of jumping off of the bed. Hoping I could teach him a new trick, I purchased a set of stairs he could use to go up and down as he pleased. He did not know what to make of them at first since he had always placed his front paws on the bed awaiting my assistance. But he soon learned to accept the new tool and now he does not stumble.

God knows our needs long before we do. Knowing this can reduce our fears and worries.

Today, let me be satisfied with the gifts of life and breath.

“We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in him.”  I John 4:16a  NLT

How does one earn a dog’s trust? The first word that comes to my mind is consistency: consistent care, consistent attention, consistent instruction and expectations. If the rules change, the dog can become suspicious or afraid.

When Famous was a puppy, he had to learn there would be times when he would be alone. I was fortunate in that he was able to accompany me to work for his first two years. Still, there were times when I could not keep him with me or leave him unattended in the car. I had to show him that I would return if I stepped out of site into the next room. Then he learned I could reappear if a door closed between us. Gradually he understood that I could go outside and quickly return. And soon he become used to the concept of me driving away for hours at a time, knowing I would eventually return.

God will never leave us alone or abandoned. He is consistent in his presence, his expectations, and his love. We can place our trust in him and know He will forever be the same.

Remind me today, God, that although the world around me will constantly change, You are my steadfast Rock.

“Then the Lord told Abram, ‘Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you…I will bless you and make you famous, and I will make you a blessing to others.'”  Genesis 12:1, 2b  NLT

What I might suggest may sound as absurd as these instructions when they fell on Abram’s heart. Leave all you know, give up all you know, and I will bless you. If we do the same, then we must turn over everything we own, even our pets, to God. The vast majority of us treat our pets as our sole possessions, for our own pleasure or protection. We may spoil them, or show them, but how often do any of us share them?

To see Famous as a gift from my heavenly Father instantly transforms him into a creature created for his purposes. And isn’t that how we should all act–as God’s gifts to each other? I have been blessed with a well-tempered dog that responds well to other people and who can brighten their day. He becomes a blessing when he reminds anyone of gentleness, humility, or the simple pleasure of his presence. I pray he is “famous” not because of the love I bestow upon him, but because he reminds me and others how much God loves us all.

God, guide my steps today in faithful obedience so that not only will I be blessed, but so You can bless others through me.

“I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my permanent promise to you and to all the earth.”  Genesis 9:13  NLT

I put off owning a dog for many years in my adult life. As much as I remembered the companionship and fun of having a dog when I was growing up, I also remembered the responsibility involved in caring for a pet, much which was shared with my parents when I was younger. I remember thinking it was not so much the inconvenience of having a dog while juggling one or more jobs but the sadness which would have descended upon me if I were not offering the very best life I could to any animal destined to spend a life with me. I also found that Famous, like most dogs, likes having a routine. So even before I brought him home, I began shaping my life, my home, my vehicle, to one which would most readily accommodate him. One year turned into two and has now passed into nearly eight years of finding our rhythm, our routine expectations with which we have become comfortable.

As I have taken a vow of sorts to always provide for and protect him, so has God promised to never abandon us. Genesis offers the explanation of God’s rainbow as a promise to all people.

Father, help me today to remember your promise to sustain me.