“For God, who said, ‘Let there be light in the darkness,’ has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.”  II Corinthians 4:6  NLT

It is the time of year when daytime and nighttime temperatures fluctuate quickly. This evening we headed out for a walk with a beautiful sunset for a backdrop. By the time we had walked around the schoolyard the light was fading when we turned to head home and the air was cooling. Famous led us close to a southernly exposed brick wall of the school, and you could feel the radiant heat from the bricks, evidence they had been baking in the sun for hours during the day.

We need only look for evidence that the Lord has been with us in this place. Out of the void God spoke and evoked the light in the beginning of all creation. This was his “Word,” his logos, which became flesh in Christ Jesus and which continues to go forth into the world through our hearts.

Enable my senses to find evidence of Your presence in my life today, dear Father. 

“Meanwhile, the boy Samuel served the Lord by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon.

One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle^[a] near the Ark of God. Suddenly the Lord called out, “Samuel!”

“Yes?” Samuel replied. “What is it?” He got up and ran to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”

“I didn’t call you,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.” So he did.

Then the Lord called out again, “Samuel!”

Again Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”

“I didn’t call you, my son,” Eli said. “Go back to bed.”

Samuel did not yet know the Lord because he had never had a message from the Lord before. So the Lord called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”

Then Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy. So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed.

And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!”

And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”  I Samuel 3:1-10  NLT

Poor Famous! An intestinal infection kept him under the weather with loss of appetite all week. Instinctively, he refused to eat. But even that did not stop his urgency to quickly get outside when he could not control  his bowel. Careful monitoring of him and his mood, appetite, and urges became my main focus. If we did not make it outside in time, he sadly waited until I realized that he and the living room floor needed cleaning. During the daytime I learned to watch for any sign that he needed to quickly be taken outside, whether it was a short whimper, heading to the front door, or just standing and staring at me hoping I would see him in time.

At night this become a more difficult problem. His whimper could not always arouse me from sleep, so he would relieve himself when and where he could. I would usually awaken to the foul smell from the midst of my slumber and instantly realize Famous needed my help.

After the second night, with the realization the problem was not going to be solved quickly, I made a decision to sleep on the living room sofa with my clothes on ready to walk outside with him in a moment’s notice. Then if he called to me in distress, I was ready to respond once I could focus on the room and where my shoes were laid! This proved to be a satisfactory method but one which deprived me of my sleep just as had been the case the summer I was house training him. At that time he would sleep in his crate close to my bed. At the first sound of any whimper, I would show him outside where it was appropriate to relieve himself.

Today Famous showed the first signs of improved energy and appetite. His urgent needs have also improved. Our solution depended on my willingness to respond quickly to his call for help. But how often do we delay our responses to God, either convincing ourselves we need to think about his call or ignoring it all together? God will, I believe, continue to call us to the purposes for which we are created. The problem in delaying the   response is that we will miss unique opportunities to serve and understand God’s will. We should become quick and obedient servants waiting for the Master’s call, even if it means sleeping in our clothes and being ready in a moment’s notice.

Help me not to stumble in my conviction to follow Your direction today, O Lord.

“It’s an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God.”  Hebrews 6:19  NLT

It’s always something. As Famous and I leave the house on our way to walk through the neighborhood, I inevitably will remember I need the house key in my hand, or I left a bottle inside for the recycling bin, or I forgot to pick up a letter to mail. Then, I am thankful I use a retractable nylon lead attached to his collar. As he goes out to the porch, I have the length and flexibility of his tether to allow the front door to close between us while I retrieve the forgotten item in the next room. He waits patiently knowing he is always supposed to remain at the top of the porch until I join him before we descend the steps together.

But God never forgets his promises. They are as sure as a “lifeline” that will never break. It may be very tempting to blame God when the things we count as secure–our families, our homes, our jobs, or our health–are destroyed. Even when we feel separated from God, as though a door has closed between us, He is constant in his faithful presence.

Assure me today, Father, of Your presence when I feel cut off from You. You will never leave me alone. 

“Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.”  Matthew 17:1-3  NLT

I am always looking for photo opportunities to capture moments with Famous. We might be at a scenic location, or on a road trip, or just chilling around the house. These photos will remind me of what I was experiencing both on the outside and the inside. I will remember the light, or the wind, or the smell. And I will also remember the joy, the wonder, and the fun.

Wouldn’t this have been a great photo “op” for Peter, James and John! No doubt they would never encounter any difficulty remembering what happened to them that day. They would remain forever changed knowing that God was with them and would give them strength during all which would later happen to them in their lives.

Today, nearly everyone carries a camera phone in their pockets. Making memories seems to have become very easy. But have you tried taking a photo of God recently? It may or may not work so well with a smart phone, but the moments when God is present should be remembered by taking the time to let the experience become part of our long-term memories. Perhaps you can recall the moment from a dream, a conversation, or a worship service. When you know God is there, take a picture in your mind so that it will be useful during the future challenges.

Show me the moments today, God, that will be helpful on my path in service to You.

“And Jesus said to him, ‘Go, for your faith has healed you.’ Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.”  Mark 10:52  NLT

We were enjoying the warm afternoon on the back deck a few days ago. Famous was standing up close to the railing in order to better survey the woods behind our house for any trespassing squirrels. As I watched him, a hummingbird flew and hovered two feet in front of his face, unaware at first that he was on the other side of the railing. Famous stood still and watched as the creature hung in the air in front of him. Then it flew off into the woods. Famous probably figured it was some large insect such as a dragonfly, but for a moment it captured his attention.

There are so many moments in our lives. Each one can be as wonderful as the next one if we are connected to Jesus. But instead of stepping from one moment to the next with the grace and confidence which the Lord gives us, we are tempted to dwell on the past or consume our thoughts with the prospect of the future. Even worse, at times we live vicariously through others and allow envy, greed, or depression to dominate our minds and  hearts.

Faith is knowing that this very moment is the most important time to be connected to the Lord. These moments can be endless, and they can continue into the world to come.

I pray You will be close to me in every moment of today.

“It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.”  I Corinthians 15:52  NLT

It only takes an instant for life to be forever changed.

My recent lack of posts was not due to sudden tragedy or illness. The transition out of the end of summer into the fall routine, along with regaining my equilibrium of a balanced schedule following a week of vacation, has simply left me experiencing a changing rhythm which often left the blogging unattended. Either that or I have been too lazy. Famous enjoyed some of this R and R with me which you can see in today’s featured image, a pretty happy dog basking in the sunset breeze of a wide and sandy beach.

I did begin to worry I was not listening to God and sending forth his message through my daily reflections. The truth is his voice has been very clear, but at times it takes me a while to begin to comprehend what He has shown me in a single thought. I understand God is simply love, the depths and heights of which I cannot understand. This is our unwavering task as his creation–to resonate, to grow in, and to be vessels of his love.

Today has been declared Patriots’ Day, a somber day of remembrance and reflection, compassion for those who tragically died suddenly sixteen years ago and honor for those who suddenly found themselves rescuing others.

It is true our world was suddenly different. The repercussions of the attacks on the World Trade Towers in New York City continue like aftershocks following an earthquake, slowly beginning to diminish over the years. We cannot live in fear of what the next second will bring or that we missed every opportunity the last second that just passed could have afforded us. But how often we trivialize each mere second as though in this world they were infinite! They are not so in this world. But they will be so in the world to come. And we should remember that God is present in every…single…moment.

Teach me the value of each moment of life today, O God.

“Also on the day of the first fruits, when you present a new grain offering to the LORD in your Feast of Weeks, you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work.”  Numbers 28:26  NASB

The feasts of the Hebrew year were set aside to commemorate blessing. The one mentioned in Numbers 28 is probably closely related to the Feast of Tabernacles which occurred in September or October and has significance as a celebration of deliverance from bondage. Work was forbidden and reflection on God’s goodness was a priority.

Famous will benefit from my day of rest from the hospital. We will enjoy the beauty of the day, the opportunity to walk trails, and give thanks for God’s gift of life. We will remember the fun and energy of the summer now coming to an end, and we will pray for the blessing and security we hope for in the winter ahead.

May this day of rest from labor create many moments to thank God for His deliverance. 

SPECIALTY DRINKS MENU

A dog goes into a bar and orders a martini. The bartender says, “You don’t see a dog in here drinking a martini very often.”

The dog says, “At these prices, I’m not surprised.”