“Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. ‘Joseph, son of David,’ the angel said, ‘do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.'”  Matthew 1:19-20  NLT

Famous must place a great deal of trust in me. Perhaps he has no choice, or perhaps it was earned over years. My place is not large, so if he has settled on the floor in the middle of the hallway, there is little room on either side of him. Even if I am trying to step over him with a full laundry basket, he remains confident I will gently step over him rather than harm him.

Inspired by his dream, Joseph chose to trust the movement of the Holy Lord rather than what made common sense to him at the time. This is how we allow God to work in our lives.

Teach me to place my trust in Your ways today, God.

 

“Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations.”  Luke 1:6  NLT

One of the most challenging and engaging aspects of pet ownership is communicating with them. It can also be a great deal of fun. It becomes much easier when Famous is asked to do something he wants to do. For example, it would be extremely rare for him to turn down an offer to walk outside. There have been occasional refusals late at night when he has looked at me with the expression which tells me, “I’m tired and ready for bed, and will only go outside to protect you if you keep insisting.” Otherwise, without even asking, the open door is invitation enough.

Then there are the not so easy commands where it can become a battle of wills. In this case, Famous may temporarily hold out on listening to me. He may have found a comfortable spot on the sidewalk in front of the house, and my offer for him to follow me inside may not seem like the best choice to him. He has learned I allow it on occasion, so in the short term he can get his way. Ultimately, my desire to protect and care for him will be victorious.

God desires to have his will accomplished through the acts of men and women who dedicate their lives to him. By not responding to God’s will, we may delay his marvelous work within us, resulting in diminished blessing to the whole world.

Today and every day, may I be directed in obedience to You, O Lord, so that Your plan of redemption and salvation may find expression through me.

 

“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.”  Luke 2:8  NLT

Famous appreciates the comforts of living in a house. That being said, he instinctively knows he belongs in the fields out-of-doors. To see him marching across a meadow with the wind in his face is really a remarkable site. Even on cold days he likes to spend a few minutes sitting out on the deck taking in the sounds and scents of the early morning. Then, when the cold gets to be a bit much, he comes to the door signaling it is time to return to our “creature comforts.”

Discovering where we belong in the world can be a great adventure. Geography, family, and career all play a part in finding what suits us in life. But discovering where we belong spiritually is also a great adventure. Nothing can be more satisfying than coming home to Christ in our hearts.

Lord, You know where I belong and how my life can be best fulfilled. Teach me to know myself and to know You in my life.

 

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.”  Luke 2:8  NIV

Famous has two jobs each day while I am away at the hospital. He keeps guard at the house, and he watches over his menagerie of stuffed animals. These are important duties that he takes very seriously. The house is his castle which he defends from garbage, mail, and delivery trucks. And then there are his charges that he knows by name: Blue, Foxy, Pup-Pup, Duck, Rabbit, and Tiger. Once the day is over and I return, he proudly shares one of them with me at the front door.

God interrupts our lives every day, but not in the way He did with the shepherds at the time of Jesus’ birth. They were working, doing what they had learned in order to make a living. And very likely they returned to their duties in the fields after they had visited the holy nativity. It would not be wise for us to abandon all of our efforts and sit around waiting for divine epiphanies. Even monks who are devoted to God’s service have chores which occupy their time. But God does come to us, and we should expect his divine message to arrive, sometimes suddenly, and sometimes with startling results.

Help me to understand the importance of my daily tasks as a vehicle for Your advent.

“When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’”  Luke 2:15  NLT

Famous has taught me a great deal about expectancy and anticipation. First of all, he knows exactly what the words out, squirrel, and “with me” mean. Suddenly on hearing those words, his attention and excitement peak, and all he is trying to figure out is how soon the front door will open. He understands he gets to participate in an event that has yet to happen, but one he has experienced many times before. He does not consider how this event will be rated, if he will be disappointed, if he is currently too busy, or if there is any risk involved. He knows his role is to be prepared to meet the opportunity as soon as possible.

Certainly the shepherds were excited when heralded by the heavenly host. They only saw opportunity in the decision to leave their flocks and abandon their duties to see this once in a earth-time miracle.

We must be just as excited whenever prompted by the Spirit to move, to act, to serve God. We should always be just as prepared for the door to open to us.

Never let me lose the joy and excitement of seeing Your work in my life!

“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 2:7  NLT

It is one of the most peaceful scenes in my home: Famous asleep in his bed under the piano wrapped up under his dog blanket with at least one of his stuffed buddies beside him. He will rest his head on the bolster, eyes centered on me just in case he needs to only raise his eyelids slightly to see if I am still with him. You know he has found a place of comfort for he does not flick a whisker once he is settled. It would not take much to get his attention–a sudden noise, a telephone ring, or a doorbell. But it is an everlasting moment which encompasses the satisfaction of knowing all is well.

Ever wonder why the Messiah did not arrive with earthquakes and lightning bolts, or why the only noises came from animals bedding down for the night? In his vulnerability the infant Christ came to tell us to be at peace, to not be afraid, just as Mary and the shepherds had been greeted. In one moment, God cast a blanket of peace  under which all of humanity can find comfort.

Show me today one who needs Your comfort and peace.

“This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. It began just as the prophet Isaiah had written: “Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way. He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the LORD ’s coming! Clear the road for him!’ ”  Mark 1:1-3  NLT

Famous is confident on our neighborhood road as he has traveled it thousands of times. He might be attracted to one side or the other depending on the scent. But if he has no other course, he makes his way right down the center of the road as if to say, “Make way, for here I come!” (I sometimes think this is a leftover habit from dog show training when the dog is showcased in the middle the promenade path.) I follow right behind him in this parade wondering if sometimes I should just put on roller blades or try the new hoverboard craze. But knowing I need to be extra alert near the curves or entrances where a vehicle might happen upon us rather quickly I will avoid the accouterments and rely on two feet to help brake or guide us to the side if necessary.

When John the Baptist preached of the Messiah’s coming, he made it clear that nothing should hinder the Lord’s presence in our lives. When we stay alert to avoid obstacles, distractions, and temptations which may prove harmful to our spiritual well-being, we are clearing the way for God’s mighty power to transform our lives.

Show me the path today, Lord, that will help me to walk in step with Your presence. 

 

 

“Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.'”  Matthew 2:1-2  NLT

Famous and I are greeted most every morning by a star rising in the east. It is the sun, and especially in the winter its light and warmth are gratefully received. Many times we only see its glory at the end of the street, so you can understand why Famous and I may choose to linger there for a moment or two even on the coldest of mornings. The sun comes to the entire planet except for those above the arctic circle at this time of year, but it is easy to imagine it has been sent just to the two of us. Listening carefully we might even hear the music of the celestial spheres.

The light of our Savior, Jesus Christ, brings life to all. Who will receive the light, and who will carry the light? These are questions which only a few understood at the time of Christ’s birth. They are questions we each should ask today.

Help me reflect the light of Christ in my life today. 

“This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham : Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers…. Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah.”  Matthew 1:1-2,16  NLT

People have ancestry trees while dogs have pedigrees. I think most often of Famous’ pedigree during this time of year, for it was about this time I saw his mother for the first time, and it was not in person. The autumn before Famous’ birth his mother won Best of Breed in a national dog competition, and I witnessed it on television. I had no way of knowing she would give birth to a puppy that would share his life with me and bring me such joy. Looking back now, I could just say I was in the right place at the right time. But I believe events are set in motion by God long before we see their fruition.

Jesus’ birth had long been a part of God’s plan of “bringing us home.” Without it, we would not have received Christ’s gift of redemptive love and the weight of sin could not have been lifted.

Teach me to see beyond my own span of years so that my life may continue to witness the redemptive power of the Lord God Almighty.

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you! ” Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”  Luke 1:26-33  NLT

There are not too many opportunities for sleeping in late when the first task each and every day is to take the dog for a walk. With plans to let the cold, brisk air be my wake-up call, I hurry to put on jeans, shoes, coat and hat before meeting an eager Famous at the front door. But, we just get past our yard when I hear the brakes of the recycling collector truck pulling into the neighborhood which instantly interrupts our plans. Not having carried my recyclables out to the curb in the middle of the night, we have to turn back in order to retrieve the bin. Now, we are very awake, and our pace quickens as we get back to the morning routine.

God interrupts our lives whenever it suits his purposes. It might be to correct our wayward course. It might be to aid others in their daily struggle. It might just be to reveal his blessing that day. Or, it might be to bring light to the everlasting life He can bring to those who believe.

Shine Your light on me today, O Lord, to redirect my life in accordance with Your will.