“Wherever he went—in villages, cities, or the countryside—they brought the sick out to the marketplaces. They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed.”  Mark 6:56  NLT

Touch. It is one of the best parts of the relationship between humans and canines. Somewhere in our distant past wild dogs found benefit from staying close to human fires and the leftovers from the hunt. Once they accepted food right from the hand, I imagine it was not long before a pat on the head followed. That touch became the bond which would lead to domestication and the joy of keeping a pet.

When the night is still and Famous is ready to call it a day, he will often settle on or beside my leg or foot in the comfort of my presence. But I can get just as much comfort from stroking his back or rubbing his belly.

Touch. It can be powerful. Even the knowledge or memory of touch can bring health. Even the fringe of Jesus’ robe can grant peace.

Help me today, Christ, to not withhold your compassionate healing touch.

“Solomon’s living quarters surrounded a courtyard behind this hall, and they were constructed the same way.”  I Kings 7:8a  NLT

They say a man’s home is his castle. Well, in my house Famous is the king. Right now as he rests on top of my foot, I hope he is thinking how good he has it! How lucky would any of us be to be waited on hand and foot for free! He has a personal groomer, chef, and masseur, all in me. I suppose minus the concubines Famous lives a life equal to that of King Solomon.

Outside of our “palace” I have created a small garden courtyard. We hold court there every morning and evening as we water the flowers and greet the birds, butterflies, and squirrels that may come to watch. Famous will often sit on his throne on the grassy hill where he surveys his kingdom. This is where he seems to be the most satisfied.

God poured his blessings upon Israel through King Solomon for building the Temple in Jerusalem. For generations to follow, this became the place where they would encounter God. But we know God is not confined to a building or a structure. He is with us everyday wherever we go. He sits enthroned in our hearts.

O God, purify my heart. Cleanse me from sin and dwell within me.

“Using acacia wood, construct a square altar 7 feet wide, 7 feet long, and 4 feet high.  Make horns for each of its four corners so that the horns and altar are all one piece. Overlay the altar with bronze.  Make ash buckets, shovels, basins, meat forks, and firepans, all of bronze.  Make a bronze grating for it, and attach four bronze rings at its four corners.  Install the grating halfway down the side of the altar, under the ledge.  For carrying the altar, make poles from acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze.  Insert the poles through the rings on the two sides of the altar.  The altar must be hollow, made from planks. Build it just as you were shown on the mountain.”  Exodus 27:1-8  NLT

When Famous was ready for a larger crate than the one in which he came home with me, I purchased what seemed to be the best at the pet store. It was so large that it could only sit in the back of my SUV if I turned it sideways. It had two side doors plus a sort of “trap” door on the top. It had handles and wheels and best of all, it could collapse upon itself for storage. Assembling this great container took a while as the foreign-made contraption only came with picture diagrams for instructions. Some of the latches holding the walls together were plastic and did not hold up during the construction. Nonetheless, I finally had it ready for Famous.

It was to be his roomier “prison” while I was out of the house. I learned very quickly, however, that he would end up being much happier outside of any cage if he had to stay in the house alone. I tried to use the crate for a week or two, but ultimately donated it to charity. In the long run, it became the end to any house crating for Famous.

The container for the tablets given to Moses from God was the Ark of the Covenant. Specific details for its construction are recorded in Exodus. This would be a holy relic and would symbolize God’s presence among his people. But God made even greater vessels for his Spirit. We have been designated as temples for the Holy Spirit, designed and created with great care. In addition, we are no longer imprisoned by the pharisaical laws, but liberated by Christ from sin and death.

Christ, help me to order my steps today in accordance with the new life You give free from enslavement, imprisonment, and entombment. 

“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.” Colossians 4:2 NLT

I find such joy in Famous because he directs my thoughts to God. I am sure this is God’s intent for all such blessings. Famous has the habit of going to bed with me, but he is hampered by the height of the bed. So as I am about to turn off the light and turn in, I find him beside the bed with his front paws on top of the mattress as if he is saying his prayers. I know he is merely waiting for me to do my part to lift him up. Yet, in this simple gesture he reminds me to pray to my Father who waits to lift me up from the weight of the world.

Prayer should be a continuous conversation with God, a discipline which always reunites us with the Creator.

Enable me to turn to You, God, in prayer throughout the day with eagerness and thanksgiving.

“God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us.”  Acts 15:8  NLT

Spiritual disciplines are methods for keeping us close to God. They are not rules. In the days of the New Testament, believers began questioning the standard for who could legitimately say they were followers of Christ. Were Gentiles to be the first second-class Christians if they did not accept circumcision?

It does work that way in the American Kennel Club, so to speak. Dogs and bitches must be able to reproduce, to pass their genetics to progeny, if they are to remain eligible for show competition. Otherwise, they are out of the club!

But God does not require us to jump through hoops. We are not commanded to read the Bible everyday, to say a prayer before each and every meal, or to attend a church service every week. All of these things are practices which can bring us closer to God, but they do not make us Christians. And I do not propose we should do these things and others out of habit, although the consistent practitioner will definitely find it easier to encounter God. God does require our hearts to remain open to him and his guidance. Otherwise, perhaps we will no longer be “in the club.”

Look into my heart today, God, and purify me so that You may abide there, and I may rejoice!

“Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”  Philippians 2:4  NLT

I believe one of the greatest potential benefits in caring for a pet, whether you are a child or an adult, is practicing the art of nurturing another living creature. I have led a busy life as an adult, and I have joked that I have progressed over the years from taking care of a “pet rock” to sustaining a green houseplant, then keeping a fish alive for several years. Finally, I had advanced to bringing a dog into my life. My focus quickly shifted from getting myself through the day to getting through my day to care for Famous.

In part, Famous became an answer to the loneliness that accompanied being a single adult finished with education and seeing many school friends move away over time. My work and activities filled my day, but without a family at home at the end of that day, my solitude became more foe than friend. But a certain joy arrived in the house with him, and I quickly associated that joy with God’s blessing.

When we see beyond our own selves, we can begin to see God’s mission for us. As I have learned to encounter God through the joy Famous brings, I have has also learned to maintain an open heart during my encounters with people throughout my day. Each meeting is an opportunity to give and receive the blessings of God.

Christ, You are the supreme model of selfless love. Help me to sacrifice more of self so that You can use me today in accomplishing your purposes.

“Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.”  Ephesians 4:2  NLT

Discipline requires patience. If acquired behaviors were easy, they would not require the steady, repetitive duty of learning. Dogs respond to repetition. Famous seems most content when our day is “routine.” He knows he is safe if he stays home while I am away, and his stress is minimized in new environments if I am there with him. It is consistency which gives him the expectation which calms him.

But the owner has to be consistent in his patience. Dogs are very observant, and once they see behaviors which are erratic or cruel, their trust can be lost. But a continuous affirmation of your affection can make them attentive and willing to comply with the discipline of learning.

We will make mistakes in our daily walks because we, unlike Christ, are not made perfect. But if we show patience to one another, then we can encourage each other to learn more about how we can live a life full of faith.

Today, Lord, I ask for patience in my growing and in my being.

“For the LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.”  Psalm 84:11  NLT

Discipline has two inherent components: requirement and reward. These two components are the guiding principles in dog training. If the required response is given to a command, a response which is correct and done in a timely manner, then a blessing in the form of a reward is granted.

During his obedience training Famous was a big fan of liver treats. Appropriate behaviors  were instantly rewarded with these bite-sized treats until the behavior was solicited without the treat. Then a reward of praise was given for a job well done.

The practice of spiritual discipline guides us in our efforts to act in appropriate and timely ways. Our reward is the spiritual and peaceful blessing of being on the path God has set before us.

Christ, be before me, beside me, beneath me, above me, and behind me today as I work to stay on the path of righteousness. 

 

“Do not stay so far from me, for trouble is near, and no one else can help me.”  Psalm 22:11  NLT

Even walking on a retractable leash, Famous knows its limits. After thousands of walks, he knows the length of the nylon ribbon, how far he can go in front of me or up into the grass. He has learned if he sees a squirrel or a rabbit while we are walking through the neighborhood it would be futile to pursue it unless he wants to have the collar dig into his neck as he reaches the end of the line. He also knows he can only move along at a certain pace unless I get the urge to run along beside him. He’s also quick to figure out that the two of us cannot pass on opposite sides of a vertical obstruction such as a tree or a pole.

These words from the psalmist speak of fear and isolation and foreshadow the death of Jesus on the cross. We should rejoice in the knowledge that God is near us all the time. Instead we are constantly testing the limits of his influence in our lives, forgetting that without God we would have no life at all.

Dear Christ, because of your sacrifice for me, my life is redeemed, and I can live without fear because of your bonds of love.

“Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the LORD your God disciplines you for your own good. So obey the commands of the LORD your God by walking in his ways and fearing him.”  Deuteronomy 8:5-6  NLT

I know I am able to enjoy many activities outside of the house with Famous because of training him when he was a younger dog. I learned early on that the benefits went beyond knowing he would do as I commanded. In fact, both my safety and his are improved just by the few weeks of training we went through his first year of life. This was quite evident this weekend when three dogs ventured into our yard.

All sorts of alarms began to go off in my head as three unaccompanied dogs were spotted in my neighbor’s backyard–two pit bulls and a Rottweiler. Famous, being used to greeting other dogs on our walks, beat me to the edge of the yard where the dogs were already interested in him. I could see they wore collars with tags, but being strange to our yard, they might have caused potential harm to a smaller breed like Famous. Fortunately, they passed on through the neighborhood, and Famous returned home with me without incident.

How many teachers have I had in my life, sent by God to disciple, mentor, and guide me so that I would know how to respond to potentially harmful situations and temptations? Our respect for God keeps us observant of his commandments and walking the path He has set before us. Then, we, ourselves, are able to become the teachers to others.

Help me to honor your commands, O Lord, today and always.