“You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.”  I Peter 3:4  NLT

I have not thought Famous would be a great candidate for dressing up for Halloween. I see dogs dressed in tutus and cow costumes, and they are cute, but that would never fit Famous’ personality. That being said, he does have an orange Halloween bandana he will don for a few days leading up to October 31st.

But I do have my suspicions that Famous is in disguise. What if he were actually an angel sent to watch over me wearing dog’s clothing? What if he were watching me and reporting back to our God in heaven? I am not convinced that he is really incognito, but I do know his stare constantly reminds me of God’s ever present love and protection. He continues to be my touchstone, reminding me to ground my thoughts and actions in God’s teachings.

O Lord, dress me in raiment of light so that others may know Your glory.

“And then he told them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.'”  Mark 16:15  NLT

As the days shorten and become cooler, Famous and I will have fewer opportunities to dine al fresco. Eating out with Famous is a well-orchestrated affair. I have either phoned ahead, or announced my presence with the restaurant staff, retrieved Famous from the car, water bowl and water bottle in hand, and anchored ourselves to a table with no plans of leaving until the bill is paid. Between being seated and retreating to the car, we usually have a nice, somewhat relaxing meal. My bonus is his company. His bonus is the occasional morsel from my plate.

The effort gives us another memory, another shared experience, another opportunity to talk to strangers and share our bond.

Often, the extra efforts to create opportunities where we share God’s love are rewarding and always uplifting.

Inspire me today, O Christ, to find unique ways to share Your love!

“Turn from evil and do good, and you will live in the land forever.”  Psalm 37:27  NLT

Dogs cannot vote, but I did today. I voted in hopes of improving my community and country. But Famous can elect whether or not he chooses to obey me. One of the hardest decisions for him is whether or not to abandon his freedom if he is off leash in the yard and I am requesting for him to come inside. He will try to ignore me, gazing off into infinity, pondering all the possibilities that running off on his own could afford him . Then, he will look up at me holding the front door open for him and choose independently to join me in the shelter of our home.

There are times when our hearts may wonder away from God, trying to imagine the possibilities of living life according to our own designs as prodigal children caught up in our own self-worth. If we are wise, we will abandon those temptations, understanding our Father understands the true desires of our hearts, and return to the shelter of his arms.

Dear Father, help me always to attempt to see Your loving desire to bring me into Your kingdom.

 

“For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?”  I Corinthians 4:7  NLT

We must guard against believing our blessings are our privilege or earned by our own merit. Today we walked by a political voting location where pollsters were about to shut down for the evening. Famous was met with acclaim, and compliments were made regarding his demeanor and grooming. He was winning votes across party lines! I take these remarks with gratitude knowing that I do take pride in his appearance and approachability. But first in my heart I give thanks for the blessing of having him in my life. I did not create this wonderful creature, and I am humbled that I get to share his existence.

I try to acknowledge every day that he is a gift. This allows my pet-owning duties to be less work and more honor. This should be the case in all of our endeavors. We must learn to translate the obligations in our lives into inspired celebrations.

Humble my heart and inspire me to see Your purpose in all that I do.

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation.”  II Thessalonians 3:16  NLT

I read recently why there are many good points about allowing a dog to sleep with you in bed. Although Famous’ designated spot is at the foot of the bed, I have noticed a more peaceful sleep when he is slumbering close to me. Others note a sense of security, a deeper sleep, and more restful sleep. Sleep is the opportunity for the mind and body to rest and to heal, and it can have a significant impact on your overall health.

But when we are not asleep, we still have a safe haven of peace to help us navigate the world around us. It is from this deep well where we can make the best decisions for God’s kingdom and have the most profound effect on the lives around us.

Dear Lord, keep me in perfect peace and rest today.

“And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.”  Colossians 3:15  NLT

Famous can be the master of chill. When he gets to sit on the deck or on the hillside of our backyard, he has a very regal look of satisfaction. For a little while he is king of all he surveys. No bird or varmint escapes his notice. It makes me feel quite satisfied knowing he is happy.

If we are called to live in peace, I believe it is helpful to find peace in our own lives before we can invite others to share it with us. The opposite is convincing others we live in turmoil and have little hope of accomplishing anything together.

Give thanks with a peaceful heart. 

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19  NIV

It has been one of those days where I have been with Famous for the entire day, and he is exhausted! He has not had the opportunity to nap since we started the day. Now, he has turned in earlier than usual, and I even hate to wake him for a final walk. I have been there tending to his every need. Now as I seek the peace of nighttime, I can find a peace in his heavy breathing and find his cozy slumber infecting me like a yawn.

Do we take more than a moment to praise God when things go well in our day? I see Famous peacefully sleeping, and I find a peace as well. For this I am grateful and able to see God’s hand in creating this wonderful moment. And I am reassured He will be with me in every circumstance.

Right now, help me to see why You have brought me to this time and place with everything I need to serve You, Lord.

“Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.”  I John 3:19  NLT

As strong-willed as Famous can be at times, I know he will sometimes look to me for instruction or affirmation. For instance, he has learned we do not approach every person or every dog we see while walking. The fact is we do not greet most of the people we pass as we respect their privacy. But sometimes people want to say hello or have their dogs greet mine. It is then I will find Famous looking at me to see if this is a friendly and approachable stranger and if I am giving him permission to say hello.

Do our actions show to whom we belong? Do we seek confirmation in making our daily decisions so that we can confidently walk in the truth? If we truly desire to one day stand before God, we must discipline ourselves to seek and obey his commandments today.

Teach me today to obey You, Lord, with confidence. 

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”  Galatians 1:10  NIV

Famous did not choose his life with me, although I believe my desires for a dog were met in part by a higher power. Whether or not he misses me while I am away, or if he just lives in the moment, there must be some character trait or temperament which allows him to “brave” the times of isolation. My mind allows me to choose and to comprehend the length of time we will be apart. But that does not completely solve the problem of a heart longing to be reunited with this bundle of love.

Our obedience to God is one of choice. But be careful your choice is not made out of self-serving promises of wealth or ease. Although an obedient heart is a free heart, it can well be an isolated and tried heart. These hardships are present even though they divinely lifted in ways only a spiritual soul can comprehend.

O Lord, lift my heart today when I seek Your Presence.

“However, as it is written: What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived — the things God has prepared for those who love him.”  I Corinthians 2:9. NIV

It is wonderful to walk Famous at night with a full moon. On any other night the road is a black shadow nearly impossible to see were it not for the street lights. But with a bright super moon the road is transformed into a glowing river with the appearance of waves made by the light passing through thinning leaves still on the branches. Even more spectacular would be the moon on a bed of snow, but we will take this warm October night over the bitter cold for now.

Today I pray for light in the shadows.