“He found them in a desert land, in an empty, howling wasteland. He surrounded them and watched over them; he guarded them as he would guard his own eyes.”  Deuteronomy 32:10  NLT

Famous still wants to go outside even during hot weather. He eagerly waits for me to open the door. The muggy air must be loaded with the scent of other creatures. On sunny days, I realize the pavement must be very hot to his paws, and we will sidestep into the grass if he chooses. He, at times, will underestimate his stamina, and his panting gives evidence of his rising body temperature. Even if I let him choose the path, it sometimes becomes obvious he is becoming less focused on where to go, and I have to encourage him to head home. Once we walk into the living room we are again surrounded by the blessing of AC. He heads to the air vent underneath the kitchen table and plops down on the cool ceramic tiles.

Just as I watch over and direct his path on these hot days, so God watches over us when we are marching through our wildernesses. We may feel lost and disoriented, perhaps near our breaking points. But He knows how to direct us home. We must trust him to lead us back to the living waters.

In my need and confusion, show me Your constant love and protection.

SUMMER MONDAY

Wake and walk.

Water and talk.

Goodbye wave.

He’s gone. He’s gone. He’s gone. He’s gone. He is still gone. Gone. Gone Gone. What? He’s still gone? Gone so long. Long. Long gone.

He’s home! Bless my soul. He’s O.K. Can we play?

Let’s go! Let’s trot! Forget that it’s hot!

Now pant, pant, pant, pant, don’t mind me if I become delirious. What? Excellent idea! Let’s go home together.

Rich and Famous, 2017

“And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” Romans 5:5  NLT

If there is one thing I wish Famous could understand it is that I love him. He knows I will care for and protect him. He knows I will listen when he is trying to tell me of a need. He knows I will spend time with him and give him a safe place to sleep at night. He knows if he barks loud enough I will open the door so he can run outside and chase squirrels!

Are you wondering if God loves you? Are you wondering if God even exists? The truest love you have ever felt in your life came from God because God is love. When all others fail, He is the one who will protect you, watch over you, and love you.

Let Your deep love for me fill my cup and cause me to share my heart for Your glory!

“People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.”  Proverbs 28:13  NLT

I often have to say, “I’m sorry,” to Famous. I’m sorry if I let his water bowl become empty. I’m sorry if I have not got the time for a long walk. I’m sorry the neighborhood will not let dogs swim in the public pool. I’m sorry if I forget to buy his favorite treats. I’m sorry I have to leave him at home all day by himself several times each week. I’m sorry I cannot play with him all the time when I do get to stay at home.

It seems we are forgetting how to say, “I’m sorry,” to one another. I suppose we associate these words with guilt for omissions or mistakes which puts us in a position of liability. If we are in a habit of confessing our sins before God, then I believe we can learn to commit them less often. If we can approach our Lord with a contrite heart, then we can equip ourselves with the peace to apologize to those we have wronged.

I confess today I have sinned against God and against my neighbor.

FRIDAY FUN DOG FACT

They Really Are Hot Dogs: Next time you see your pet pooch panting on a sunny day take pity on them. Not only are they wearing a huge fur coat, they also have to contend with a higher body temperature than you.

The normal body temperature of a human is 37C, but a dog’s is a whole degree higher at 38C. That’s one reason fleas are more likely to be attracted to your dog than to you. And unlike humans, dogs don’t have sweat glands all over their body, just on the pads of their paws.

“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.”  Luke 15:20  NLT

How far have I ever been from Famous? Thousands of miles if you count my cross-country trips. His leash, however, will not allow him to go more than twelve feet away. As for being off of his leash, he was once with me on a private beach where he ran to his heart’s content and where he easily distanced himself by a hundred yards before running back in my direction.

Our days are filled with obstacles and opportunities to run away from God. We are easily distracted at times by this freedom, and we will more often than not use it for our own pleasures rather than God’s pleasure. But I believe the safety of our souls depends on being in God’s presence. He is always there throughout our days to welcome us home.

Today I choose not to be a slave to my freedoms but to be a slave to the call of God. 

“For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”  II Corinthians 3:17  NLT

Famous spent his first Fourth of July in the big city of Atlanta watching tens of thousands of runners fly past in the annual Peachtree Road Race. I was one of those 10 K’ers. We were just learning to co-exist with one another, and he was as far from home as he had ever been. Instinctively, he began to understand I would be the one who would sustain him, who would keep him from harm, and the one among all those runners who would claim him as my own.

God’s Spirit has claimed us. It can grant us freedom from the thousands of false gods which seek to destroy us. Whatever demon you think has claimed you, be it illness, vanity, or prejudice, it can be vanquished by God’s Spirit.

Show me Your freedom, and teach me its value so I may understand the price that was paid for it.

“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.”  I Peter 2:16  ESV

We started our celebration of Independence Day with an early morning walk through the park. Famous enjoyed the cool breeze on what is forecasted to be a hot day with probable afternoon and evening storms. I enjoyed watching him trotting in the breeze and sniffing the wet grass, although I was eager to get home again for my first cup of coffee. We ran into a young lady who was also taking her dog for a walk. He was a yellow lab, and he was really celebrating his freedom. He was walking without a leash.

I thought to myself how this seemed to be a preferable method. Obviously, he had been well trained and resisted the urge to walk over and say hello to Famous. But I also noted his owner was in violation of a city ordinance, one that states in the city limits a dog must be on leash in public spaces. I said, “Good morning” and kept Famous on the other side of the street. The lab’s owner did not acknowledge me as she was diligently speaking to her pet reminding him of his obedience.

I do think it would be better if all dogs could be trained in such manners. Obviously, most owners would not take the time to be as involved, so leash laws need to be passed. Perhaps it was envy, but I was still annoyed that someone would assume that the law did not apply to her and her pet. I hope he will always be obedient and not be placed in danger around other dogs or traffic.

God grants us freedom knowing it is a good thing for us, but also because we need to work together to help each other. Some of us have more freedoms from disease, from poverty, from mental disease, from demons such as hatred, greed, and lust, than do others. We can share our freedom in Christ to those who are so burdened.

Lead me to celebrate with gratitude the opportunities to live in Christ’s freedom.

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”  James 1:19  NIV

I suppose if there is any consolation for the hearing loss Famous has suffered this year it is the fact that he is not bothered by fireworks exploding in our neighborhood this year. As we took our final stroll this evening, you could hear our neighbors’ dogs barking and howling behind closed doors as distant booms began to sound beyond the tree line. Famous was not distracted one bit. His world remained calm as we traced our way home in the warm and muggy night.

I have found that deep understanding requires me to speak less with the gain of comprehending more. For Famous, who can no longer hear me calling from another room, my words are empty. I doubt he can read lips (yet!), but he is beginning to understand my signs for taking a walk, come here, and eat.  But in our world today there seems to be a lot of noise which causes people to shout and grow angry with one another. Attacking one another has become the new “normal” for what some are calling success. It would even behoove some of our nation’s leaders to be more “slow to speak.”

And as St. James has written, everyone should be involved in the process. To not listen is haughty, to speak quickly leaves us no room for interpretation, and to rush to anger leaves no time for forgiveness.

Help me today to create the time to listen to You, Father, so that I might better listen to my brothers and sisters.