“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4  ESV

Springtime gives us the opportunity to be back outside enjoying more activity in the warmth and the light that have returned. This year, however, the heat came rushing back with April temperatures hitting  the middle and upper 80’s. So Famous and I have started increasing our time walking together, only now we have to start early in the morning. This morning we were able to finish a three-mile hike through the neighborhood before the sun burned off the morning fog.

Understand this is  about three times longer than an average walk in the wintertime, so it takes conditioning before we will be able to do it easily. Famous is enthusiastic for the first mile and a half. Then he realizes he is becoming hot and tired with no sign of home to be seen. I have to let him set the pace. He begins to resemble the dog of nine years more than the dog of two or three. But once he is home, he enjoys all of the rest he needs.

And you might begin to think of him only as a senior dog destined to measure every step he will take in the future; that is, until he sees me carrying the hotdogs out to the grill for our supper. Suddenly, slow-poke Famous in bursting with energy, doing his “happy dance” and forgetting any fatigue or pain that may have plagued him moments before.

All of us face a future death in sin if not for the redeeming love of Christ. He saves and revives us, and He breathes new life into us.

Restore my spirit, O Lord, that my life may be a joyful walk in Your Presence.

A police officer was sitting in his car with his K9 partner in the back seat. A man walked over and said to him, “Good afternoon, officer. Is that a dog behind you?” The officer said, “It sure is.” The man responded, “Wow, what did he do?”

“A lover tries to stand in well with the pet dog of the house.”

Molière

(1622 – 1673, French playwright, actor, director)

“There are many who say, ‘Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!’ You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.”  Psalm 4:6-7  ESV

How is it Famous makes me happy? Like most dogs, he is a good companion. He is eager to accompany me wherever I go. But he is also a good dog, rarely causing any trouble for me. He has adjusted to changes in my life, and I have had to adjust my life just to look after him. He makes me proud with the compliments he receives and with his willingness to behave around other people and other pets. He is often a point of conversation in my work during the day, and people who have never met him will ask me how he is getting along. He makes home more complete, and he inspires me to think on my God.

All of these things make me very grateful for his presence. But perhaps what thrills me and gives me the greatest joy is when I see him happy, when he seems to want to tell me he does not have a care in the world.

This is how God desires for all of us to exist. We are to rest in his sanctuary without a care in the world, basking in the joy that floods our souls. Nothing on earth can satisfy like the love of Christ. Nothing on earth can outshine the glory of his presence.

I need Your joy to satisfy me day by day, O Lord.

“But now the LORD my God has given me peace on every side; I have no enemies, and all is well.”  I Kings 5:4  NLT

There are days when it seems nothing remarkable is happening. Famous and I wake up and go about our routine. We walk, we eat, and we share each other’s company. He might see a cat. I might hear from a friend. We do what we always do, and it works. There are no floods, no emergencies, no rainbows, no gains, and no losses.

But these are the days that put a smile on my face and enable me to get a good night’s rest. I know there will be days in the future where I feel like I am juggling six or seven balls at once, where Famous will not want to stick to the routine, or when I may not even be able to see him for a few days. Those are the times when I will long for these unremarkable days marked by peace and satisfaction.

In our routines, whether they be harsh or comfortable, we must remember God’s abiding presence.  We should find gratitude in all of his blessings and not seek to be reminded of God only when we call out to him to fix us. We should actively pray to God not only for ourselves, but also for our neighbors, our nation, and our world, that they all would know days without suffering, where everyone has the routine of spending time with God and communicating with God.

If today turns out to be an ordinary day, then thank you, Lord, for the beauty of peaceful routine, and help me to bring about change which will make it available to more people around me. 

“The underground waters stopped flowing, and the torrential rains from the sky were stopped.”  Genesis 8:2  NLT

The rains have been steady for the past two days with another day full of precipitation ahead. The good news: Famous does not mind the rain. The bad news: I am forced to enjoy it as much as he does. That being said, I do everything to repel the water off of us in an effort to stay comfortable and to avoid turning the house into a slippery swamp when we return. Yes, Famous has his own coat which works well to keep most of him dry. I mean, his own coat which I bought. With rain gear and radar maps on my smart phone we can normally avoid a drenching. But we do avoid long hikes in such conditions. Then we would be soaked throughout.

We will always face times when we are inundated with responsibilities, burdens, expenses, and uncertainties. Some of them we cannot avoid. These must be faced with courage knowing we do not face them alone. Others, however, may have been the result of our failure to listen to God’s instructions, to place him first in our lives, and to refuse temptation. At that point it may be too late to build an ark, but God will still be able to stop the “torrential rains.”

Show me today, Lord God, what I must do to avert looming disasters, and help me to survive the ones I cannot avoid. 

A guy is driving around Oklahoma and he sees a sign in front of a house: “Talking Dog For Sale.” He rings the bell and the owner tells him the dog is in the backyard.

The guy goes into the backyard and sees a Labrador Retriever sitting there.

“You talk?” he asks.

“Yep,” the Lab replies.

“So, what’s your story?”

The Lab looks up and says, “Well, I discovered that I could talk when I was pretty young. I wanted to help the government, so I told the CIA about my gift, and in no time at all they had me jetting from country to country, sitting in rooms with spies and world leaders, because no one figured a dog would be eavesdropping. I was one of their most valuable spies for eight years running.

“But the jetting around really tired me out, and I knew I wasn’t getting any younger so I decided to settle down. I signed up for a job at the airport to do some undercover security wandering near suspicious characters and listening in.

“I uncovered some incredible dealings and was awarded a batch of medals. I got married, had a mess of puppies, and now I’m just retired.”

The guy is amazed. He goes back in and asks the owner what he wants for the dog.

“Ten dollars,” the guy says.

“Ten dollars? This dog is amazing. Why on earth are you selling him so cheap?”

“Because he’s a good for nothin’ liar. He never did any of that stuff.”

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:19  NLT

Minor surgery restricted my normal activity yesterday. Once the biopsies, surgical preparation, incisions, and suturing are done, then it is time for the healing. I try to embrace this time as a gift, as I have often said to the many patients coming through my clinic. I would never wish illness on anyone, but when Life grabs our attention and suddenly causes everything to come to a halt, then it can be an excellent opportunity to stop and take stock of where we are on the journey.

The nicest part of resting at home yesterday was being able to spend the day with Famous. He is a great part of my healing process when I might otherwise feel disheartened by the turn of events. He did not give a second look to the bandage on the side of my head. He was happy to chill with me while we let the rest of the busy world go by for once. I knew that in just a few days I would be back in the race.

When we face the times that are different, stressful, and uncertain, remember God has already prepared the  resources that will see us through.

Help me to completely believe today that You will care for all my needs.