“But, my dear people, you refuse to ask for my help. You have grown tired of me!”  Isaiah 43:22  NLT

Famous rests peacefully most of the time while I am in the house. He keeps me in earshot, and every once in a while he will come to check on me if I have not crossed his path recently. But occasionally, he knows how to ask for help. If he needs to go outside, he will go to retrieve his leash which hangs near the front door. And sometimes, if he is slightly hungrier than usual, he returns to the kitchen and howls for my attention. I genuinely believe he does this out of need because it rarely happens. But he is completely satisfied by a little extra food in his bowl.

In Isaiah chapter 43, God is reminding Israel of all He has done for them, and even all that He is planning to do for them. However, the problem is they have forgotten these blessings and have stopped honoring God. God wants us to remember He can bless us in so many ways if we will draw close to him. Without him, our needs become suffering and our lives can go unfulfilled.

Remind me, O God, to cast my needs upon You, for You are eager to lavish Your love upon me.

“O Lord my God, I cried out to you for help, and you restored my health.”  Psalm 30:2  NLT

Fortunately, Famous has not had many health problems. He had an unknown infection right after I brought him home, but thankfully God brought him through it. A less severe but more prolonged affliction began to affect him this past year. His joints began to stiffen, and I could see he frequently walked with a limp. Rather than bounding up the front steps, he eyed them hesitantly, making his plan of attack.

Hoping I could intervene and make his life a little easier, I implemented two changes to see if the joint problem could be reversed. I added supplements to his diet and purchased steps leading up to my bed. The bed is tall, and Famous had always relied on me to pick him up and place him on the bed. However, he asked for no assistance when it came to getting off the bed, and for years he propelled himself onto his front paws as he leapt down. I reasoned he was inducing inflammation of the joints with the repetitive pounding.

After a few weeks, he did start responding. He quickly became used to taking the steps up and down to the bed. The limp went away and only came back after walks which were much longer than normal.  The added advantage now is that I do not have to get out of bed in the middle of the night to give him a boost!

God, I thank You for your healing Spirit, and pray your blessing today upon all those who are ill and crippled. 

 

“Now I, Paul, appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ—though I realize you think I am timid in person and bold only when I write from far away.”  II Corinthians 10:1

Persuading Famous to comply with my wishes is generally not a difficult task. He knows the difference between a sympathetic, imploring tone, and a stern and frustrated one. So were I to stand at the door and yell for him to come inside, he most certainly would figure he should just stay seated in the grass. On the other hand, if I, in an encouraging, gentler tone, let it be known that coming inside right that instant would result in a tasty biscuit, more than likely he would gleefully step into the house (knowing I rarely would withhold a treat once it was offered).

Paul points out that there is a heavenly capacity for Christ’s goodness, his mercy, and grace and that we should model his character with boldness. How often we forget the power of his love! Instead, we resort to ostracism, legality, and inciting fear “in the name of love.” By shouting God’s revenge, punishment, and anger to motivate people to change their ways probably encourages more people than not to stay out of the church. Far more certain is the probability we are walking in Christ’s shoes when we are meeting needs and ministering in his name.

Lord, please help me to not set myself up as judge, but as servant, and to not raise my voice so loudly that I cannot hear Your own.

 

 

 

“The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions.”  Proverbs 28:1  NLT

Back when I was a child, most dogs were not confined by city leash laws. One of the downsides was that dogs were free to chase cats and cars. If animals crossed into each other’s territory, there would be a chase to the nearest tree.  And I was amazed how close dogs would get to the tires on the vehicles, barking and running and annoying the motorists. Unfortunately, many dogs were thus injured or killed by surprised drivers.

These dogs were pretty bold, even in their ignorance of the great capacity for danger. Thankfully, Famous has never been observed to have any interest in chasing vehicles. From the time he was very young, walking the sidewalks in our neighborhood on a lead close to busy streets has been our routine.

I am amused, however, by watching to see how bold he is around neighborhood felines. If you think in black and white, you would assume dogs chase cats; end of story. But with Famous, it actually depends on the cat. There are cats which are very approachable. Most of these are house cats, and if he gets a chance, he will try to make friends. But, if a cat is loose in our yard, he will chase them home in a flash. Then there are the cats who are bold enough to protect their yards and actually try to attack a dog on a leash. To these, if spotted by Famous, he avoids and gives wide perimeter.

God calls us to be spiritually bold, not by bullying other faiths or lifestyles or spouting off ignorant rhetoric, but by faithfully, consistently, loving others and demonstrating a commitment to follow his teachings.

Dear God, help me to be bold when necessary and always compassionate to the weak.

“Get up,  for it is your duty to tell us how to proceed in setting things straight. We are behind you, so be strong and take action.”  Ezra 10:4

Getting Famous up and ready to go is rarely a problem. The instant he hears “Come on!”, his ears perk up and he looks to see to which door I am headed. He is usually so eager to see what is new in the yard that I have to make sure the lead is attached before I can open the door. But every now and then I have to say, “Get up!”. He can sometimes hear this as “roll over and play dead”, acting like a mop ready to be pushed across the floor rather than the ever obedient dog companion. I try to figure out if he really wants to play, he’s comfortable where he is and does not want to be bothered, or he’s figured out I have an ulterior motive such as giving him a bath.

With only a little extra effort I am able to eventually persuade him to get his legs underneath him and follow me. There might be a belly rub involved or the extreme picking him up and turning him over, but if I show him this is his only recourse, he willingly complies.

We should be encouraged to move into action when God commands. Trusting him to know the right moment to proceed or make a decision is crucial for our own happiness and his continuing plan of salvation and redemption for the world. To refuse to listen to God’s voice, or to doubt his leadership in our lives, puts us at risk for missed opportunities for peace and blessing.

Dear God, thank You for your protection each day. Give me courage to accomplish all that I can for You today. 

“A final word: Be strong with the Lord’s mighty power.”  Ephesians 6:10  NLT

Dogs love to play tug-of-war. How many toys of ball and rope can one dog have in a lifetime? Apparently, not too many. They are especially handy when a puppy just has to have something in its mouth. I would pull Famous with his jaw clamped down on one side of the toy enough to engage his full strength and then give him a little slack. Back and forth we would go to the point of low growls from him. He never seemed to tire, but when I was ready to admit defeat, he always ended up with the toy.

I should be more like him when it comes to spiritual endurance. Unfortunately, most of us try to defend ourselves from dark powers by our own strengths such as intelligence, ingenuity, and influence. These can only carry us but so far, and often they deceive us instead into believing we can conquer evil without the true source of power — God. Without him, we fall prey to the daily routine which lulls us into complacency, rather than vigilance.

Dear Lord, renew my strength and bless me with your Spirit.

“Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and staff protect and comfort me.”  Psalm 23:4  NLT

It is a comfort to walk with Famous close beside me. If he chooses to walk a little ahead, he will sometimes turn his head for assurance that I am still with him. He rarely lets me out of his sight, but if the corner of a house or a tree does separate us, he will run back quickly to find me.

I cannot imagine walking a lonely road to death. Today is my sister’s birthday, and she walked that lonely road six years ago. Because she never walked while she lived, the image of her walking through the valley of death depicts a special bravery. Even through the pain and discomfort of her final days, her faith comforted the rest of us, for we knew she was aware of the closeness of God.

I have heard it is easy to forget the sound of a loved one’s voice once they are gone from our lives. But to this day, I remember her interest in my dog, Famous, and her query, “How is the good ol’ boy?”

Father, today I pray a special prayer for all those who need to know You are their shepherd.

“For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of good sense to the godly. He is their shield, protecting those who walk with integrity.”  Proverbs 2:6-7  NLT

With springtime comes the tradition of honoring students of learning by their graduation ceremonies. Famous had his own graduation from obedience school. After weeks of practice with clickers and treats, he passed all of his tests and received his diploma. (And for those of you who have not been through the experience, most of the training is for the humans!) We have both enjoyed the benefits of behavior upon command, a certain wisdom which comes in handy throughout the day. And even as he approaches middle age, he is smart enough to learn new tricks which gives us more satisfaction.

If wisdom is a gift from God, then learning and education are the disciplines necessary to earn it. And by “earning it” I mean creating a focused and open mind to receive the information imparted  to us. But true wisdom involves discernment, not accepting all information or propaganda as true. Often the test of true understanding is not what we believe or have been taught, but what God has revealed to us in his wisdom time and time again.

Father in heaven, open not only my mind to understanding, but also my eyes, my mouth, and my heart. 

“The Lord is my helper, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”  Hebrews 13:6  NLT

After a rainstorm the road is littered with small branches and twigs. Sometimes Famous likes to chomp on them and drag them as if he were helping me clear the debris. His efforts may or may not help to clear the street, but it would appear we have the same purpose as we clear the sticks from our path.

Rather than seeing God as distant and disinterested, He is constantly with us to heal, teach, and correct. He is our Advocate. And with such an Advocate, why should we ever fear? Famous is a continuous reminder of God’s presence, of his protection and favor. He reminds me that I should be working in unison with God’s will for my life. Walking my daily path with him, I have no fear of the pain, hate, or violence I might encounter.

God, I ask your protection from harm, knowing that even in the face of danger You are with me, and I shall not fear.

 

“I command you–be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:9  NLT

I cannot conceive of a greater demonstration of loyalty than a companion who wants to be wherever you are. If I am in the yard, he wants to be with me. If I am in the middle of a lake, he wants to be with me. If I am upstairs, he wants to be upstairs. If I am downstairs, well, you get the picture. He knows I have to go away at times, but I am sure he thinks it would be better for me if I would let him come along.

There are many things that make me doubt the people around me. They are more concerned about telling others what to do than looking in their own closets for skeletons. They are more concerned about defending their beliefs rather than looking at how they came to hold those beliefs and why they might differ from those of another person. They only understand a religion of victory and reject any religion of suffering and service. They adhere to blind faith where they fail to see the destruction they can cause.

I cannot conceive of a greater reminder of God’s presence than to view Famous as his gift to me. He is a reminder of God’s love, the great shield from evil. He is a very present representation of the Comforter who breathes life and health into each moment. Knowing Famous would defend me in any situation reminds me of God’s command to have the courage to seek truth and goodness. And most of all, he lifts my spirits, preparing me to share joy and not hate.

Lord, give me the courage to question my faith and to always seek your face in others.