“If, however, the mark breaks out again in the house after he has torn out the stones and scraped the house, and after it has been replastered, then the priest shall come in and make an inspection. If he sees that the mark has indeed spread in the house, it is a malignant mark in the house; it is unclean.…”  Leviticus 14:43-44  NASB

“Unclean, unclean!” If you are a dog owner and you own glass storm doors, then you know the plague upon your house is dog slobber! You can scrub the glass every week, but as soon as a squirrel or cat is spotted by the waiting pooch, and the barking commences and the nose is pressed up to the glass in anticipation of being set free to the outdoors, then deposits of slimy, cloudy wetness begin to accumulate on the glass about a foot off of the ground. It is the clear sign of a house pet, and it could serve as a warning to any postal carrier or would-be thief that there is an animal present.

Like the door which has to be cleaned so that there is a clear and unobstructed view to the world beyond, our lives have to be cleansed from the sins which we repeatedly commit despite our faith in Christ. Christ’s death on the cross marked the end of slavery to sin and the consequence of eternal death, but as imperfect creations we still must ask forgiveness for our shortcomings each day when we have forgotten to place Christ on the throne of our hearts. He is ready to forgive and offer to you a clean heart.

Show me the way to seek Your forgiveness and the renewal of Your Spirit today, dear Lord.

“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.”

Roger Caras (1928 – 2001, American photographer and writer)

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”  Proverbs 3:5-6  NIV

When walking a dog on a lead, particularly one that retracts, you have to be aware of vertical obstacles that might hinder your path. Anything stationary over three feet high such as a tree, light post, or street sign presents a problem if dog and master choose separate sides. Famous has become accustomed to this challenge and will normally choose a path to avoid tying up his lead. Smart dog!

But this morning he became very interested in a scent which took him up a neighbor’s sidewalk and behind a dogwood tree. Rather than back-tracking and preventing a tie-up with the tree, he looked back at me as if to say, “There’s a problem here. Why don’t you step through the wet grass and come around the tree and fix it?” So I laughed and obliged him.

God will not lead us on paths that will tie us up although they might challenge us. If we seek to know where God is leading us rather than only where we think is best, our paths will ultimately become clear.

Give me wisdom today to see the path You have set before me.

“Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.”  Psalm 119:97  ESV

One of the rules of owning a spaniel is sufficient grooming. Ideally, I should brush or comb Famous’ ears every day. But he also has fine feathering which is prone to tangles around his elbows and hips. If these areas do not get special attention, the knots that form must eventually be cut out. When done correctly, his coat becomes a shining, tasseled skirt that gives his gait movement and grace.

He is a patient dog when it comes to grooming. He lets me perform the ritual of brushing his ears, trying not to pull too hard through the snags, until they are soft and smooth. It usually only takes a few minutes, and even though I have to stop everything else on my agenda, it has become a tender and enjoyable practice.

Our communication with God also requires practice. Only in seeking God in quiet, intentional prayer or meditation can we hope to create the room in our hearts to listen, obey, and enjoy his law. Otherwise, the busy agendas, the earthly distractions, and the evil pursuits of this life will leave us in a tangled mess!

Grant me the steady patience of creating moments today given only unto You, my God.

“The dog has been esteemed and loved by all the people on Earth and he has deserved this affection for he renders services that have made him man’s best friend.”

Alfred Barbou (1840 – 1907, French writer)

This morning our walk was filled with amazing fragrances! The overnight storms had left a heavy vapor over the earth, and the air was perfumed with the scents of rose, honeysuckle, and cedar, not to mention a tangy, lemon aroma. Famous must have found them even more enticing than I. If that impressed upon him where he belongs, his home, a place of sweet beauty, then I have to believe he could find his way home from anywhere!

So important was the scent from the spices used in worship that only the priest could mix them! They were used to evoke emotion and memory and to transport the worshipper to a place far different from the everyday world. The Temple was a place set apart from the rest of the world where the created could meet their Creator. It is this refuge that we can find everyday no matter where we are.

Surround me with Your marvelous Presence, O Lord, and lead me home to Your sanctuary of peace.