“O Lord, God of Heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, listen to my prayer!”  Nehemiah 1:5 -6a  NLT

Perhaps one of the special considerations of having Famous in my life is the constant reminder of God’s unfailing love. A dog’s love is unwavering and it is instinctive. But God’s love is more than affirming me as a companion. His love is immeasurable. It is the love that created me, sustains me, protects me, and champions me. God’s love is the love that gives this life meaning and offers eternal life beyond this one.

Famous loves me morning, noon, and night. He loves me when I have forgotten him and when I have neglected him. He loves me when I am having a great day, and he loves me when my day isn’t so great. He is there for me. No matter what I’m feeling, he wants to share it with me. He gets excited when I am excited. He wants to comfort when I am sad. He makes me want to play as a boy and share his life as we both age. His eyes are observant and vigilant, and his ears are sentries. He inspires me.

This is how I know God gave him to me.

I will praise God, awesome and great, and know He will hear my prayers because He has done great things.

“The Lord will bring me out of my darkness into the light, and I will see his righteousness.”  Micah 7:9b  NLT

Famous has a very good memory for the layout of our neighborhood. He knows where cars are supposed to be parked and where different sidewalks and paths run. During our walks I have found he has to investigate anything that is out of place, a trailer or a trash can, for example. Different vehicles may be parked by workers hired by a homeowner or the association. So I thought it was very curious when he started circling a neighbor’s truck one day. He was obviously interested in something that even I could not see. It turned out the neighbor had cleaned out packaged chicken from his refrigerator and placed the bags in the bed of the truck.

Hope and faith depend on our curiosity to discover what God has set before us. It may be a new career or relationship. We may go about our lives completely in the blind until we allow God to open our eyes to the possibilities of what can be accomplished with his help. Only then can He achieve his purpose in us.

Renew my hope today, O God, by keeping my heart open to your possibilities.

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'”  Jeremiah 29:11  NLT

Happy birthday, Famous! You were born in a litter of seven puppies, all male, and all liver and white. You came to live with me in late June when you were only ten weeks old. I had been expecting you to come into my life for about six months, and I eagerly followed the progress of your mother and her litter until the time was right for me to make the five-hour trip to meet you for the first time.

Having you in my life has been a wonderful blessing, more fun than work. You have been blessed with health, beauty, and an amazing temperament. I have experienced the gifts of companionship and devotion. But even more amazing to me is my belief in God as the Master Designer of our years together.

And because of this belief, I understand Famous to be more of a gift than a pet owned by me. He was chosen for me with the intent that I would honor his life and give praise to God for allowing me to be his care-giver. Over the years our bond has grown stronger as I have seen him bless so many lives with his mere presence.

God has a plan for each of us, and his design is only for us to be perfected in his image. This is the future and hope of those who believe in Him. He has placed us in this world and at this time with all the tools and gifts we need to grow in a right relationship with Him. We just need to understand how to find and honor the gifts He has created to be the blessings in our lives.

Each day is a day of blessing, Lord! I will seek to find the gifts You have created for me today.

“For the Lord does not abandon anyone forever.”  Lamentations 3:31  NLT

Can a dog sense the passage of time? I had a friend laugh once when I said I needed to return home because Famous would be expecting me. He tried to reason that dogs cannot tell if you have been away twenty minutes or twenty days.

They may not be able to tell time, but certainly dogs understand routine. I believe Famous expects to be fed everyday and walked a certain number of times a day. He allows me to drive away in the mornings because this is part of our routine. And, I have yet to leave him and never return.

If I come home in the middle of the day, it seems to catch him off guard. Instead of running to the door to say hello, he looks at me from the hallway with his head cocked to one side as if he is wondering what I am doing home at this hour!

Of course, I would never abandon Famous. But, at times I do have to leave him behind. The author of Lamentations understood that those who trust in God may not always have easy lives. There can be suffering, illness, and despair; therefore, they may feel as if God has forgotten them. My intention is to always return to Famous, but God never abandons us. When the season and timing is perfect, He allows us to understand the paths we have traveled–paths where He was always with us.

I will not fear nor doubt that God is near me all the time. 

“You will have courage because you will have hope. You will be protected and will rest in safety.”  Job 11:18  NLT

Having Famous with me in the house does give me an increased sense of security. He is a sound and peaceful dog asleep, but it takes only a bit of a strange or unexpected noise during the night to wake him and cause him to alert me of potential danger. Thankfully, we live on a quiet street, so there are few disturbances in the neighborhood during the late hours. His response to a danger inside or outside the house would be far quicker to mine while asleep.

These words of encouragement to Job were meant to lay responsibility for his misfortune at his own feet. But the world is full of dangers and disappointments no matter the strength of a believer’s faith. As they say, “Bad things happen to good people.” Faith in God cannot erase the fragility of the existence we keep on earth. But it can prepare us to react with conviction and confidence that He has not forgotten us and has suffered with us.

Father, You alone can hear my voice when I cry in need. My hope is restored in the knowledge that You are always there. 

“Jesus replied, ‘People soon become thirsty again after drinking this water. But the water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life.'”  John 4:13-14  NLT

Another goal in keeping a dog indoors is supplying a never ending source of fresh water. This means frequently checking the water bowl to make sure a fresh drink is always available, not just at mealtimes. For me, the habit of checking the bowl each and every time I enter the kitchen has helped me to accomplish this for the most part. It is also customary to check the water bowl each time I have to leave the house and one of the first things to check  when I return. Famous does his part as well. Knowing he may have a long stay with the only facilities available being my carpet, he drinks very little during the day until he realizes he is about to go outside when he will lap up at least half of his remaining supply.

We have someone who makes sure we never have to suffer spiritual thirst. Jesus explained to the Samaritan woman her physical thirst could only be quenched temporarily. Because modern plumbing did not exist in her day, she had to transport water and then use it conservatively. Jesus explained the water of life which He could offer was not only in abundant supply, it also conquered thirst altogether. Just as I am content to supply Fame’s need for water, so Jesus is longing to cure our spiritual drought.

Jesus, let me drink from your well today so that my walk will not make me weary. 

“For the evil have no future; their light will be snuffed out.”  Proverbs 24:20  NLT

To walk in our neighborhood Famous and I have to travel on a narrow winding road. I have had to campaign for speed bumps to be placed because there are no sidewalks, and many people would drive under the assumption that only cars use the street. The road is even more dangerous at night when the visibility is cut and people are eager to get home. To give Famous an added layer of protection, I purchased a blinking light which attaches to his collar. In fact, last Christmas I gave one to almost every dog in our neighborhood. If they wear them, drivers can see them in plenty of time to slow down.

But there is no added protection for the one who lives in darkness. The light of hope cannot reach them for they have chosen mistakenly to live in sin. How ominous is their path which will surely end in doom! But we who live in the light live without fear of destruction. And it is a daily path of hope that is promised to us.

Help me to see your everlasting light, O Lord, that will illuminate my path today. 

“Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful.”  Romans 12:12  NLT

A high bed can be a bit of a challenge for a springer. I imagine if he had enough space, and a running start, he could make it with a nice leap from the floor to the top of the mattress. But before he was fully grown, and as I transitioned Famous from sleeping in his crate to sleeping at the foot of my bed, he would place his front paws on the bed when he could see it was time to go to sleep. Then without making a sound he would patiently wait for me to lift him up upon the bed. It gave him the likeness of a dog saying his prayers before going to sleep.

Almost without fail, however, he would jump down to the floor and sleep on the cool bathroom tiles at some point during the night. But, alas, this meant he would once again need assistance when in the morning he would want to rejoin me in the bed. He elicited no barking, no whimpering to wake me and get my attention. Instead, he would just gently prop his paws on the bed, wait a few seconds, and then plop down on the floor. This would continue every ten or fifteen seconds until his soft “thuds” did finally wake me, and I would retrieve him.

God has a perfect design for each and every day of our lives. With patience we can hear and see the path He has set each day. There will always be diversions, temptations, which can lead us away from his path or hide his path from us. Through the practice of spiritual presence, for example through prayer, we can find God’s path once again.

Lord, I start today in prayer so that I may see the way I am to go.

“And if we have hope in Christ only for this life, we are the most miserable people in the world.”  I Corinthians 15:19  NLT

Why would I care for Famous so if secretly I hated him? How long could I masquerade as his protector, his provider, and his teacher? My actions are a testament to the love and honor I try to bestow upon him, but perhaps more telling is his devotion to me and the spirit he has towards others. Dogs know the hand that feeds, but they also know someone’s demeanor often before humans do. I cannot take credit for the years of breeding which helped to shape his temperament, but I can be proud that he is a well-behaved, approachable, and gentle animal. Hopefully, people see his friendliness as an extension of the care I give to him.

I believe we can approach Paul’s proclamation with the same scrutiny when we ask ourselves if we have been deceived into believing and following Christ. As human beings, we cannot escape being dubious of what we believe. Hope is the glue that holds the rocks of our faith together. But as Christians we know there is evidence of more than what the world can explain. Just as Famous has become the creature he is due to love, we have become the children of God due to God’s love. This is the reason we are not to be pitied, but rather victorious — God can change us into perfect creatures!

Dear God, restore my hope if it has dwindled. Kindle in me a renewed awareness of your transforming power in my life. 

“For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are.”  Hebrews 4:12  NLT

There are many techniques used in grooming an English springer spaniel. The bench variety requires a considerable amount of grooming demanding patience, a certain amount of skill, and a cooperative dog. All that –unless you have deep pockets enabling you to pay a professional groomer. After his bath, Famous has a fitted robe he wears which allows his coat to lie flat when dry. This robe is made to slip over his head and is then fastened under his belly with a large safety pin. This is a snug fit, so careful attention has to be paid not to stick the dog or yourself as the large pin secures the sides of the robe. The result is worth the effort, and Famous knows to stand fast until I am finished. This is fortunate for him as he has never been stuck by the pin. I, on the other hand, found out from personal experience how painful a slip can be.

God’s word is a living instrument. As we are exposed to it, we find it presses us to stand still and heed its instruction and revelation. It can be as precise as a scalpel in meeting our needs and guiding our lives, and if we wear its truth in our hearts, it prepares us for all that can confront us in life.

As I hear your word today, God, let it expose the parts of me I have not completely turned over to You.