“Then Mary said, ‘I am willing to be used of the Lord. Let it happen to me as you have said.'”  Luke 1:38  NLV

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Living with Famous helps to keep me focused in the moment. Unlike a child who keeps his parents planning for his future, his education, and his career, Famous keeps me thinking about what he needs just then. If he needs a bath, bathe him. If he needs grooming, get the scissors. If he does not get enough supper, give him a second helping. I know that life will take care of the things to come.

I believe we have forgotten how to live our faith in the moment, to instantly be ready to hear God’s voice, no matter where we are and what we are doing. Two things may help to explain the problem. Number one — we do not expect it will happen. Either that, or we believe it will only happen at church or when some spectacular or miraculous event occurs in front of us to get our attention. Or number two — we really do not want it to happen because secretly we do not want God to mess up the neat little lives we have put together for ourselves.

Think back to Mary’s encounter with the angel, Gabriel. Certainly, she may have been surprised when he appeared. But back then people lived their faith doing the tasks that God asked them to do in that moment. Her only concern was doing the will of God. She did not ask what she would get in return. She only understood that God needed her. But then, did it change how she encountered the world? She still had to travel to Bethlehem (while she was in labor) like everyone else. She still had to find refuge in a barn rather than showing her “gold card” stamped by Gabriel himself. She still had to become a refugee in another country because she had been given no special powers to protect her Son. She only had the willingness to let God’s Spirit overtake her. If she had paused to consider the effort, the fear, the heartbreak that lay ahead of her, she would not have delivered the One who came to do his Father’s will for all of us.

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In this very moment, let me understand what You require of me today, O Lord.

“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”  Luke 22:42  NLT

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We rejoiced this day by going to the park to hike, to sit, and to people (and dog) watch. To get there, I opened the car door for Famous to take a front row seat. In that moment he decided to jump into the car. He had been anticipating a ride with me having recently been brushed and dressed up with a blue bandana. He was watching me closely knowing we were about to go somewhere, and somewhere was good enough for him when I gave him the opportunity to be my shotgun.

Are we as ready to do God’s will as was Christ? We say we are, but are we truly listening for God’s direction, and more importantly, are we ready to follow his leading? Famous had no other agenda in that moment but to wait for me to direct him to jump into the car. If we live a God-centered life, then Jesus demonstrated it meant putting his Father’s will over our own and being ready to take action.

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Help me to hear Your voice among the many voices clammering for my attention.

“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”  Hebrews 12:14  NIV

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It takes work to develop the correct relationship with a pet. Trust, obedience, communication, are essential, but they can only be achieved over time. The effort has long term benefits and makes life with a pet much more enjoyable.

There must also be effort made to have peace in our lives and to cultivate holiness. Just as I predicted a special relationship with Famous by taking him to puppy classes and establishing habits early in his life, we can hope for a vibrant, empowering relationship with the Risen Lord if we strive to sanctify our hearts and minds. Establish a pattern of opening your heart in the morning, and God will give you holy moments throughout the day.

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Help me to make time to be holy.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”  Luke 15:20  NIV

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It does not take long after coming home after a long day to feel uplifted when your dog sees you come through the front door and welcomes you with unbridled excitement. Famous has always given me that lift, especially if I have been away for more than a day. I was reminded once again of the parable of the prodigal son. Thinking he had better things to do, he left what was familiar, and he took for granted the love that had been bestowed upon him freely.

Famous offers me no retribution, no revenge, no cold shoulder when I arrive home after leaving him. There is just the joy of the reunion. But we should look closer at the story and not assume we are always portrayed as the lost son. Henri J. Nouwen wrote a beautiful description of the different roles this lesson portrays: the role of the loving, forgiving father; the role of the obstinate and foolish son; and the role of the older envious brother who had not disgraced his father. Nouwen wrote that we find ourselves in all of these roles at one time or another. Our goal each day should be to receive God’s grace so that we are neither foolish, nor haughty, but compassionate and joyful like the father (and Famous) towards others.

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Show me the wonders of Your love and help me receive them with joy today!

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To tell the weather: Go to your back door and look for the dog. If the dog is at the door and he is wet, it’s probably raining. But if the dog is standing there really soaking wet, it is probably raining really hard. If the dog’s fur looks like it’s been rubbed the wrong way, it’s probably windy. If the dog has snow on his back, it’s probably snowing. Of course, to be able to tell the weather like this, you have to leave the dog outside all the time, especially if you expect bad weather.

Sincerely, the Cat

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DOG IN GRASS

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I stealthily sneak through the tall spring grass

Like a lion stalking its prey on the African plain

Careful, steady movements, crouching low to go undetected

The waves of grass bending gently before me

Focused and waiting for my intimidated quarry to run ahead

Ready to pounce and devour my helpless victim

Hey! This grass is pretty good! (chomp, chomp)

 

“What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin ? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.”  Matthew 10:29  NLT

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We were just finishing dinner tonight when I heard it, a sound I recognized, a thud at the front door. Famous did not react to the sound, but he followed me to look out through the glass to see a tufted titmouse slumped on the welcome mat. It had flown into the door at a time when the sun was low and produced no reflection and the lights inside the house were not yet needed. The little bird was upright, its beak wide-opened as if waiting for its mother to bring home its supper, but otherwise lay quite still as the dog on the opposite side of the glass began to bark loudly.

I could not be sure how badly it was injured, but I could not leave it helpless on the porch. We have neighbors whose “pet” cats are left to roam free through the neighborhood. So, Famous went to the back deck where I could keep him sequestered while I went out the front door. Still motionless, the little bird did not seem distressed as I gingerly picked it up with plastic bags on my hands. I held it close to the fence where Famous was waiting, and he seemed impressed that I had captured this thing with wings. I wondered what to do next, but having started the rescue, I was hopeful for a positive outcome. I sat the titmouse down in the garden thinking its legs seemed a bit stronger. Then I thought it might get a little more protection under the rose bushes just a few feet away. Once again, it let me scoop it up and deposit it under the branches and thorns.

I watched it for a minute, and then I decided I needed to update Famous and reward him for remaining calm when I showed him the bird. I went back out to see if we were making any progress, but the little grey guy was just where I had left him. Once more, I retreated into the house, but less than five minutes later I found myself investigating the rose bush. Just as before, the titmouse was in the same spot, but this time he heard me advancing, and he was able to fly off over the fence and into the woods.

Life can be fairly routine and mundane, and then suddenly it can be filled with a miraculous occurrence such as a rainbow, an eclipse, or the opportunity to hold a wild creature. God asks us to keep our hearts open to care for his creation. We can start by giving thanks for the care He gives to us.

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Create a heart in me, Lord Jesus, that seeks to honor Your world and care for its beauty.

“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”  I Timothy 1:15  ESV

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Ah, spring! It has changing, unpredictable weather, but certainly an increase in showers. (You know the ones that bring May flowers!) These same showers make it nearly impossible to keep a dog with white hair clean. Famous is likely to get two or three days out of a near pristine coat before we are back in the wet grass and mud. I could limit his outdoor activities to the sidewalk or a dog run, but he would miss his daily inspections of the “hood.” Wouldn’t it be great if there were a shampoo which completely dispelled particles of dirt, grass stains, and grease? Then he would never be dirty again!

Wouldn’t it also be great if salvation brought with it the capacity to never sin again? Once a decision had been made to give the soul to Christ, He could surround us with a force shield that would never let sin enter.

Of course, most of us have never experienced this type of lasting protection. We are human, and even Paul counted himself foremost among sinners. Christ does transform us with the capability of purifying us, and I believe we have the potential to never sin again by the power of God’s grace. But most of us will fall short of this state of purification, and we, like Famous, must be cleansed over and over again by asking forgiveness for our transgressions.

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Forgive me, Father, when I have failed to allow Your holiness to wash over me today.

 

Yesterday was bath day. It had been delayed by a busy schedule, inclement weather (which renders bath day useless), and admittedly, reluctance — more on Famous’ part than mine. I really need some sort of calendar or program application just to know when the stars align to signal the perfect time to “take the plunge”.

Famous does not come to me wagging his tail in anticipation of his bath. He is more likely to protest the notion that I need him to smell less like a dog. Therefore, it is best not to give him any hints that the bath is coming. And, if the stars have aligned, then it is a warm, dry, sunny day, Famous has already been groomed and walked, and the bathroom has been previously prepped with dog shampoo, conditioner, combs, and extra towels. But when he realizes his fate is at hand, Famous is a good dog and cooperates until the ordeal is over. He really gets a great deal of praise, but he is happiest when it’s all over. Then he can run through the house rubbing his wet coat against anything that can help him dry off.

I think most of us have fallen into a trap when it comes to receiving God’s blessing. First, we think we know what is best for us based on our own perceptions of truth and experience. And second, because God is God, we assume He does all of the work. God does not need us in order to grant the blessing. He needs us to accept the blessing in a way that will transform us and bring us closer to his understanding.

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Wash away all of my conceit and arrogance, Lord, and enable me to receive Your blessings.

HAPPY APRIL FOOLS’ DAY!

from Rich and Famous

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https://vimeo.com/210321457

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