“‘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. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.'”  Jeremiah 29:11-13  NLT

I remember our first shared New Year’s Eve when Famous was less than a year old. At the stroke of midnight we began running a five-kilometer race through a local park decorated with Christmas lights. The race was planned as a charity event, and there were a few other dogs who participated as well. Famous did an excellent job keeping pace with me. At his age he had tons of energy and only wanted to pass everyone else. Young men and women were impressed and called out in disbelief when they saw him run past them in the cold night. On the last half of the race, the park began shooting off its New Year’s Eve fireworks display. Famous had never seen fireworks and looked up to me as if asking, “What do we do now?” I looked down and said, “We just keep on running!”

No matter how you spend this last day of the year, understand you will not begin the new year alone. God has a design that will allow your life to be full and blessed. He will not control you like a puppet on a string, so you have freedom to choose to walk in his path or not. And you will encounter situations which you have never experienced, struggles which seem impossible to bear, and events which will challenge your faith.

But take heart! God hears our prayers and will never abandon us.

Open my eyes to Your will, my ears to Your truth, and guard my steps in the days which lay ahead.

“’LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.’ We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it. And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.”  Psalm 39:4-7  NLT

You might think having a dog and knowing the span of his lifetime would in comparison make your own lifetime seem almost endless. But for me, seeing Famous grow from a puppy to a middle-aged dog over the course of a few years reminds me of the limits placed on me by my Creator. I am reminded daily to appreciate life and at least try to make it a day worthy of being a pet owner. Each walk, each belly rub, and every jump into my lap becomes a celebration.

If I am capable of learning from this relationship, if any of us are smart enough to learn from our successes and failures in life, then life can be a series of joys even through the most difficult of days. We step from one moment to the next realizing our paths will one day end. And when they do, we should know in our hearts that they have led us home.

This is a day, one of a finite number, which can allow me to experience the joy of the journey with Christ. 

“For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory.” Romans 11:36  NLT

Famous’ instinct allows him to bond to me knowing I am his source of comfort, protection, nourishment and love. He understands the importance I play in his life. That importance is renewed every day as he hears me offer an opportunity to go outside, call him to supper, and provide companionship for him. I am his source for survival.

Somehow along the way most of us become convinced we ourselves are the determiners of our fates, the only ones who can guarantee our successes. But life has a way of reminding us every so often that we have been deceived. Despite our health, success, or power, we cannot determine the exact outcome of our existence. There is only one certainty, and that certainty is the giver of life who determines the course of all things for his purposes.

“Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.”

“But godliness with contentment is great gain.”  I Timothy 6:6  NIV

I have never seen Famous worry unless he was in an immediate situation. For example, he can have a present concern if he needs to go outside right away, if he is currently hungry, or if he cannot find me and did not see me come and go. He does not give the impression he has any concern for what has happened or will happen in the future. That leaves him with the contentment throughout most of his day of being safe and with provision.

Our frequent walks have given me a sense of peace and contentment during the fifteen to thirty minutes we spend together. Obviously, some walks are more enjoyable than others based on weather, time of day, and urgency. But while we are walking, nothing else matters. This is our time, and there is satisfaction in knowing we have these few moments together to enjoy.

Before we become too crazy with New Year’s resolutions and trying to fix ourselves or improve our lives, perhaps we need to understand there is great opportunity in the simplicity of our daily routines if they frequently bring us to an awareness of God’s presence.  Then, we are able to give thanks for the moment of joy and carry it into the next moment which awaits us.

O God, satisfy my heart with Your ever-sufficient Presence.

“Bright eyes encourage the heart; good news nourishes the body.”  Proverbs 15:30  ISV

Bright eyes and a joyful tail wag — these are gifts given to us by our pets. Famous’ eyes are ever watchful and waiting as he hopes for that next chance to accompany me outside or an invitation to come and rest beside me as I sit on the floor.  Even my simple arrival is great (not just good) news to him. But the gift is the joy I feel inside to know this gives him great pleasure as well.

Too often we allow the heaviness of our world to cloud our perception of God’s love for us. With such an outlook we are incapable of sharing the joy in our hearts. Our faces are drawn, our posture is demeaning, and we can even find ourselves loathing others who seem to have it better than ourselves or who are indifferent to our perceived struggles.

Christ has come to lift such a heaviness. His coming should not only encourage us but also cause us to thrive.

Help me to reflect the lightness of Your joy in my heart.

“The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.”  Matthew 2:20  NLT

The holidays can sure be exhausting! For Famous, the day after Christmas means starting to get back to a normal routine. No more shouts to get his front paws off of the kitchen counter as he licks a turkey breast. No more scoldings for marking territory in one of my parents’ back bedrooms. No more shouts to leave someone else’s wrapped gifts alone. He has been overloaded with stimulation from family and friends, had his share of confrontation, and is simply ready to get back home.

The shepherds also returned to their normal routine. A few of them had to spend extra time looking for sheep who had strayed. Others had to procure fresh provisions. Some could not comprehend how they would ever convince their friends and family that they had witnessed angels the previous night. But one thing was certain: tending the flocks would never be the same for them as long as they lived.

Has Christmas changed you, your routine, or even your heart? When the lights are off and the tree is down will your next day be transformed, or will you simply sigh and allow yourself to return to life as it always has been. Maybe, instead, we should be considering how we are going to convince our friends and family that we have witnessed something wonderful which has changed our lives forever.

Guard my heart against routine, complacency, comfortability, and forgetfulness. 

 

“And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.”  Luke 2:6-7

Legend has it that at the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve, animals gained the power of speech. The roots of this legend are found in Europe and may first have developed from the belief that when Christ was born in a manger, the donkey and oxen bowed down to worship him. If Famous could talk to me, this would be the perfect time. After the hurry of the season and the beautiful church service tonight, Famous looks at me in the now still night looking at me as if he would like to tell me something.

“Go ahead,” I tell him. “What do you want to say?” He rests on his front legs with paws crossed as if he were praying. Without speaking, there is a sense of peace in the room following weeks full of music, movies, and moments. But this moment announces the peace which comes to all who follow the Light of Christ.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem with little fanfare and among the animals of the stable. He came for us all, not just the privileged and powerful. In this we find peace that He is for us, not against us.

“Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!”

“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”  John 1:1-5  NLT

Christmas Eve for us means a traditional church candlelight service, gathering with friends and family, and spending the night with my parents. For Famous, that usually translates to spending an hour in the car by himself during the service, temptations from the family supper of  chopped pork barbecue (an international delight prepared in my hometown), and sleeping atop my Mom and Dad’s guest bed. The candlelight service is based on the first verses of the Gospel of John where we viscerally witness the light of a single candle dispelling the blackness of a darkened sanctuary until the flame is passed to each worshiper’s candle.

This year will be a little easier for Famous. With church duties for me on Christmas morning, I have decided to leave him at home for tonight’s functions and spend the night in my own home back with him. On Christmas Day the two of us will re-join family for a day of celebration and fun seeing parents, siblings and nieces and nephews.

God’s Light is Life. For those that carry his Light, it becomes easy to recognize those who stumble through the darkness. The world is full of forces which can easily snuff out a single candle. Therefore, we need to constantly help one another illuminate the path to salvation. If it seems you have not seen evidence of his light in your life, then I encourage you to look for the one thing or person in your life who has been the best mirror of God’s Light. It is there waiting for you. Famous reminds me of God’s love that is ever-present in my life. This is the blessing of Christmas which I hope you have felt throughout this year of writing. Famous keeps my heart tender and open to the Word of God which I seek every day. Merry Christmas!

 

“The western kings of Tarshish and other distant lands will bring him tribute. The eastern kings of Sheba and Seba will bring him gifts. All kings will bow before him, and all nations will serve him.”  Psalm 72:10-11  NLT

We give gifts at Christmas following the tradition of bestowing gifts upon the kings of ancient lands. Famous receives gifts for those who choose to honor his relationship with me. And he has great fun discovering the treats or stuffed animals hidden inside. Already, he has had a green duck, a yellow “Angry Bird” and a brown hedgehog bestowed upon him. I had discarded a gift bag thinking it was empty, but Famous quickly helped me to discover I had missed his doggie treats that were hidden in the bottom of the gift bag.

We give gifts for many reasons. At Christmas, we should give out of the appreciation and joy for One who gave his life for us.

Dear Lord, renew in me the gift of giving and receiving with joy!

“And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.”  Luke 2:4-7  NLT

I think I wore him out. I started my Christmas vacation today, a stay-at-home day. For Famous, who is used to napping while I am gone, it was non-stop. After our morning walk, we were in and out of the house doing chores. (I did the chores while Famous supervised.) Then it was time for his grooming while taking advantage of a warm December afternoon. I must say, he was extra good, sitting and turning as I worked him over from head to tail. Next, we took a two-mile walk with Famous taking the lead.

We were just getting started. Late afternoon kept us outside while I planted another one hundred and fifty bulbs for the spring garden. (Again, Famous did an excellent job supervising and barking at crows whenever they would get too noisy.) Finally, I was ready for one last task, and I had purposely waited until the end of the day when I knew Famous would be exhausted. It was bath time.

Mary and Joseph would have both been completely spent at the hour of Christ’s birth. Joseph had navigated their long journey, found shelter when there was none, and tended to Mary’s needs during her labor. And Mary. Mary could not even enjoy the fact she was no longer moving. Her body was breaking, and she would ultimately have to endure childbirth. These are the exhausted parents who were the first people to meet the Messiah.

God often comes to us when we are most vulnerable. The security we find in possessions, power, and talent is a false security. The confidence in what we have built or accomplished with our lives can easily be taken from us. When all of that is stripped away, when we are no longer able to brag about what we have done with our lives, then God is able to show us what He can do through us.

Lord, lead me to my manger where I can be re-born.