“Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks.”  Luke 12:35-36  NLT

It only happens once every so often, and it happened again today. Famous slept through my arrival. Most days I arrive late in the afternoon, but today I was home shortly after noon, and he missed it! He did not hear me pull the car into the driveway.  He did not hear me open the door. He did not hear me call his name when there was no dog there to greet me with wagging tail. He did not hear me look into the den to see him curled up asleep on the leather chair (which is not allowed when I am there). I went back into the bedroom where soon he found me. He looked dumbfounded that I could have eluded his security senses, and then he went into his happy dance.

God warns us to not go through life without anticipating his eminent return. In obedience to him we must always be prepared in a moment’s notice to respond to the Spirit’s leading. The Spirit might direct us to pray for someone in peril, listen to someone in crisis, lift someone out of their poverty, or run to the door to greet our returning Lord.

Dear Father, by Your grace, keep me alert today to sense the moving of Your Spirit and live in anticipation of the great wedding of Christ with the Church.

 

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.”  John 15:9

God’s commandment to love one another is a reflection of the love Christ has for us. I find it very easy to love Famous, but I know there are dogs who would attack us and harm us if they could. I also believe that vicious dogs have learned to be so. Whether trained that way by humans or forced to protect themselves due to tethering or abandonment, their lack of socialization was forced upon them.

We are to hate what is evil. But hatred of others is a learned behavior rooted in fear and prejudice. We should never tire of sharing God’s love and refusing to accept any and all agendas of hate.

Take my love for You, God, and use it to conquer some shadow of hate today.

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.”  Luke 6:27-28  NLT

My neighbor had a worker in his yard this morning, and it was necessary for him to travel around my yard several times. Famous was less than friendly as he watched the intruder come around one corner and then disappear, only to return a few minutes later. Obviously interested in protecting his territory, Famous would run out barking on our deck until it was time to run back through the house to the front door while making quite a racket.

But just the day before, we encountered another worker waiting outside his delivery truck while on our morning walk. This time Famous was curious but quiet. He looked to me for approval, and I asked him if he wanted to say “hi.” He then received a much appreciated pat on the head and a sniff of our new friend’s jeans (obviously still hinting of his own dogs).

We can see others through our eyes of fear and suspicion or we can see them through the loving eyes of God. We should seek his wisdom in order to know how to view others.

Remove all prejudice, pre-conceived notions, and suspicions as You guide me today through Your world. 

“Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me.” Exodus 19:5  NLT

We love our pets more than all other animals on the planet. They are the ones with whom we connect, the ones that have shared a relationship with us. I see Famous, and I wonder if I could ever love another dog as much. It would be different if he did not recognize me, if he could not establish a routine with me and follow my commands. And it must be a product of evolution that allows puppies to be so cute in order to make up for their energetic and destructive tendencies.

Even though God’s love is universal, He has made it clear He holds those closest who obey him. I would still care for Famous if he no longer obeyed me or knew who I was. But because our lives are now so entwined, he has become my special treasure.

Keep my heart tender to obey and follow Your commandments today, God.

“The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight for living.” Psalm 19:8  NLT

What is the reward for obeying God? Well, for one thing it can transform your whole disposition, the entire way you see the world around you. Start by knowing his Word. Look for the inspiration which surrounds you. Accept the challenge to be an agent of God’s change.

God has taken my love for Famous and turned it into a lesson in obedience to God. I am learning new depths and dimensions of love which can be used for God’s purposes. God has directed me to delight in Famous and learn about life. It can be painful, but it can also be a real celebration. In short, the reward is joy.

Reveal to me Your truths which will give me endless joy!

 

“But Samuel replied, ‘What is more pleasing to the LORD : your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.'” I Samuel 15:22  NLT

You have heard the expression, “spring in your step”? For the last few days, Famous has had a “fall in his steps”! The cooler breezes that herald the change in season are much more comfortable for Famous than the oppressive humid heat that gripped much of our summer. As soon as we start up the road, he lifts his face into the air and the breeze lifts his ears. He lifts his paws higher in a prance and seems to celebrate all that nature is ready to offer.

Obedience or sacrifice? Both can be appropriate in our walk of faith. But sacrifice without obedience is merely an attempt to buy our way into heaven. Couple our offerings with a sense of submission, and there is a joy linked with our obedience. A joy that others will see as we walk through the day.

Teach me the joy of living in obedience to You, O God.

“We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”  Acts 5:32  NLT

Famous developed a “hot spot” on his hind leg this week. These are irritating skin conditions, often a moist eczema, susceptible to bacterial colonization. For Famous, this is sore and very itchy. I have learned from a previous experience he had that treatment involves keeping the area dry if it is to heal quickly.

This is not a natural course for Famous as he would prefer to tend to the wound by incessant licking and gnawing. He does obey me when I tell him, “No!”, but his instincts draw him back to nursing his hurt. What does expedite healing is trimming the hair around the area, using a drying agent, and wrapping the appendage in a way that keeps him from licking it all day long.

God’s Spirit of healing comes to those who obey his commands, who do not rely on their own recourse.

Teach me, Lord, to depend on You and to bear witness to Your success in my life.

“Then he said to the crowd, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.'”  Luke 9:23  NLT

How often do we let our ourselves, willingly or not, get in the  way of God’s plans? Famous unintentionally can hinder my progress. He seems to find the most inconvenient spot to settle making me step or hop over him to continue my course. Especially, when I am trying to put on my shoes, he likes to sit exactly where my feet should go. Or, when trying to lock up the house on my way to work, it just happens to be when he wants to bark at crows from the back deck.

I am not blaming him for intentionally sabotaging my day. The truth is I usually welcome these simple diversions as I know I would miss them were he not here.

But do we consider our own pursuits as not serving God’s purposes? How often must He redirect our steps because we selfishly put our desires ahead of his? We should always seek to obey God’s Spirit rather than any self-serving desires.

O Christ, You taught us to daily take up Your cross. To do so demands we drop the selfish things keeping our hands busy. 

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”  Romans 8:14  NLT

Most dog owners can find something remarkable in their pets. I try to see God’s spirit directing me to take a deeper look into the life I share with Famous and the lessons he can teach me. I find it remarkable that in his maturity with all the instincts at his disposal, he has adapted to my life and the good and bad that go with it. I see him in a way as a very predictable animal who can still surprise and outsmart me.

We cannot outsmart the Living God, but we can often surprise ourselves if we are obedient children. His Spirit can provide the leadership our lives lack.

Lead me, Lord, and I will follow.

“So Moses told the people, ‘You must be careful to obey all the commands of the LORD your God, following his instructions in every detail. Stay on the path that the LORD your God has commanded you to follow. Then you will live long and prosperous lives in the land you are about to enter and occupy.'” Deuteronomy 5:32-33  NLT

A step above obedience training is commanding a performance in the show ring. Unlike the undivided attention your dog can give you at home, at show there are hundreds of dogs around with crowds of people in narrow walkways and noisy distractions everywhere. Your dog has to sit, stand, trot, and allow a judge to inspect him, all without resistance. It is truly a detailed communication which must pass through the handler to the dog, and it becomes quite evident when the practice time has not been made.

One of the first rules to follow is that the dog is the star. The handler’s presence should almost drift from your mind. And to emphasize his importance, the dog moves along the center of the course while the handler parallels his gait, but off to the side.

God’s commands also become increasingly natural to follow if we listen and practice them over and over again. He guides us along the path He has designed for his purposes. And He accompanies us through the journey with rewards on earth and in heaven.

Father, show me the path that I must follow in order to serve You with my whole heart, body, and mind.