“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.”  Ecclesiastes 3:1  NLT

This is the beginning of a familiar and popular biblical passage which sets forth the rhythm of life and the inevitability of life. But I think it also tells us that we are not passive observers during our journeys on earth. There is a time to be born and a time to die, but there are millions of precious moments between those two events. I believe we must find courage to present our best possible selves in every moment lest we miss the blessing that each moment holds.

Each walk with Famous is an opportunity to experience the neighborhood, the weather, the companionship in a unique and different way. Even if the weather is uninviting, there is a joy in facing it together. This weekend our walks gave us the perfect opportunities to see the moment a bright full moon peeked through a hole in the clouds illuminating the ground for just a few brief seconds and a brilliant rainbow once a storm had passed. These are gifts which would otherwise have been missed.

Seeking God’s direction in every moment allows us to be where He can use us. Thinking that we have no talent, that we do not belong or fit in, or that someone else can do the work are attitudes which rob us of opportunities for seeing the power and glory of our God.

O God, I pray my daily routine increases and does not diminish Your power in me. 

 

“However, anything specially set apart by the Lord–whether a person, an animal, or an inherited field–must never be sold or redeemed. Anything devoted in this way has been set apart for the Lord as holy.”  Leviticus 27:28  NLT

The Book of Leviticus became one of the guides for the laws of the Israelites, including the instruction to repay the afflicted with an “eye for eye” and a “tooth for tooth.” If someone killed another person’s animal, then he was required to pay him back with a live animal. There were also laws regarding special vows of dedication to the Lord, and land, property, animals, and even people could be dedicated for the right amount of silver.

We no longer make holy sacrifices of blood to God since Christ has become the eternal sacrifice for us. But the idea of understanding our possessions, our property, and even our families are to be dedicated to God out of our thanksgiving to him is an expectation which is becoming less and less familiar in our society. If we make those things which are most dear to us the conduit of God’s blessings and offer them in return to his service, we honor God.

Famous is my conduit of blessing from God. I will cherish him not as my own, but as a gift to remind me of God’s favor. If God can use us to bless others, then his love can be multiplied beyond the boundaries of my heart and home.

Teach me to take stock, O God, of all I possess and treasure, so that I may dedicate my all to You.

“In that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk.”  Joel 3:18  NLT

Believe it or not, Famous knows the sound of a spoon against a near-empty cereal bowl. He knows that noise at breakfast means I am almost finished, and if he approaches at the right time, he gets the remnants of milk before the bowl finds the sink. I am aware some dogs can be lactose intolerant, but there are only a few laps for him, and I have not seen any adverse effects. Still, the bowl is not offered unless he catches me at the right moment.

Unfortunately, most of us regard heaven as a future place in a future moment. Why bother with it now when there is so much which consumes our time, our passions, our energy? We miss the moments, even if they are small amounts of milk in the bowl, that can bring bits of heaven to our day. God desires our daily lives to be spent in preparation for the day when all of our needs are fulfilled. The more we come to his table of grace, the more He can reward us in this world.

Father, even the scraps from your table would bring me great joy and pleasure. Help me to visit it often today.

“Then after I have poured out my rains again, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions.”  Joel 2:28  NLT

Rain is inevitable. So, too, is walking the dog in the rain. Famous could care less if he gets wet, his natural coat shielding him from most of the moisture. I see it as a bit more of a challenge if indeed I am juggling a leash, an umbrella, and a poop bag. I wonder if he appreciates the extra effort. And I know he must think it silly to carry a portable roof, because he seems to be quite satisfied with the wet and the wind.

In the days of the Old Testament an anointing by God came only to a few. But the prophet, Joel, told of the day when this anointing would be available to all. That day would be Pentecost, when the birth of the church would usher in the age of gifts to all believers. And just as it is natural for Famous to delight in the natural blessing of rain, so should we celebrate out anointing by the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit, teach me to delight in Your transforming power!

“But, my dear people, you refuse to ask for my help. You have grown tired of me!”  Isaiah 43:22  NLT

Famous rests peacefully most of the time while I am in the house. He keeps me in earshot, and every once in a while he will come to check on me if I have not crossed his path recently. But occasionally, he knows how to ask for help. If he needs to go outside, he will go to retrieve his leash which hangs near the front door. And sometimes, if he is slightly hungrier than usual, he returns to the kitchen and howls for my attention. I genuinely believe he does this out of need because it rarely happens. But he is completely satisfied by a little extra food in his bowl.

In Isaiah chapter 43, God is reminding Israel of all He has done for them, and even all that He is planning to do for them. However, the problem is they have forgotten these blessings and have stopped honoring God. God wants us to remember He can bless us in so many ways if we will draw close to him. Without him, our needs become suffering and our lives can go unfulfilled.

Remind me, O God, to cast my needs upon You, for You are eager to lavish Your love upon me.

“O Lord my God, I cried out to you for help, and you restored my health.”  Psalm 30:2  NLT

Fortunately, Famous has not had many health problems. He had an unknown infection right after I brought him home, but thankfully God brought him through it. A less severe but more prolonged affliction began to affect him this past year. His joints began to stiffen, and I could see he frequently walked with a limp. Rather than bounding up the front steps, he eyed them hesitantly, making his plan of attack.

Hoping I could intervene and make his life a little easier, I implemented two changes to see if the joint problem could be reversed. I added supplements to his diet and purchased steps leading up to my bed. The bed is tall, and Famous had always relied on me to pick him up and place him on the bed. However, he asked for no assistance when it came to getting off the bed, and for years he propelled himself onto his front paws as he leapt down. I reasoned he was inducing inflammation of the joints with the repetitive pounding.

After a few weeks, he did start responding. He quickly became used to taking the steps up and down to the bed. The limp went away and only came back after walks which were much longer than normal.  The added advantage now is that I do not have to get out of bed in the middle of the night to give him a boost!

God, I thank You for your healing Spirit, and pray your blessing today upon all those who are ill and crippled. 

 

“Now I, Paul, appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ—though I realize you think I am timid in person and bold only when I write from far away.”  II Corinthians 10:1

Persuading Famous to comply with my wishes is generally not a difficult task. He knows the difference between a sympathetic, imploring tone, and a stern and frustrated one. So were I to stand at the door and yell for him to come inside, he most certainly would figure he should just stay seated in the grass. On the other hand, if I, in an encouraging, gentler tone, let it be known that coming inside right that instant would result in a tasty biscuit, more than likely he would gleefully step into the house (knowing I rarely would withhold a treat once it was offered).

Paul points out that there is a heavenly capacity for Christ’s goodness, his mercy, and grace and that we should model his character with boldness. How often we forget the power of his love! Instead, we resort to ostracism, legality, and inciting fear “in the name of love.” By shouting God’s revenge, punishment, and anger to motivate people to change their ways probably encourages more people than not to stay out of the church. Far more certain is the probability we are walking in Christ’s shoes when we are meeting needs and ministering in his name.

Lord, please help me to not set myself up as judge, but as servant, and to not raise my voice so loudly that I cannot hear Your own.

 

 

 

“The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions.”  Proverbs 28:1  NLT

Back when I was a child, most dogs were not confined by city leash laws. One of the downsides was that dogs were free to chase cats and cars. If animals crossed into each other’s territory, there would be a chase to the nearest tree.  And I was amazed how close dogs would get to the tires on the vehicles, barking and running and annoying the motorists. Unfortunately, many dogs were thus injured or killed by surprised drivers.

These dogs were pretty bold, even in their ignorance of the great capacity for danger. Thankfully, Famous has never been observed to have any interest in chasing vehicles. From the time he was very young, walking the sidewalks in our neighborhood on a lead close to busy streets has been our routine.

I am amused, however, by watching to see how bold he is around neighborhood felines. If you think in black and white, you would assume dogs chase cats; end of story. But with Famous, it actually depends on the cat. There are cats which are very approachable. Most of these are house cats, and if he gets a chance, he will try to make friends. But, if a cat is loose in our yard, he will chase them home in a flash. Then there are the cats who are bold enough to protect their yards and actually try to attack a dog on a leash. To these, if spotted by Famous, he avoids and gives wide perimeter.

God calls us to be spiritually bold, not by bullying other faiths or lifestyles or spouting off ignorant rhetoric, but by faithfully, consistently, loving others and demonstrating a commitment to follow his teachings.

Dear God, help me to be bold when necessary and always compassionate to the weak.

“Get up,  for it is your duty to tell us how to proceed in setting things straight. We are behind you, so be strong and take action.”  Ezra 10:4

Getting Famous up and ready to go is rarely a problem. The instant he hears “Come on!”, his ears perk up and he looks to see to which door I am headed. He is usually so eager to see what is new in the yard that I have to make sure the lead is attached before I can open the door. But every now and then I have to say, “Get up!”. He can sometimes hear this as “roll over and play dead”, acting like a mop ready to be pushed across the floor rather than the ever obedient dog companion. I try to figure out if he really wants to play, he’s comfortable where he is and does not want to be bothered, or he’s figured out I have an ulterior motive such as giving him a bath.

With only a little extra effort I am able to eventually persuade him to get his legs underneath him and follow me. There might be a belly rub involved or the extreme picking him up and turning him over, but if I show him this is his only recourse, he willingly complies.

We should be encouraged to move into action when God commands. Trusting him to know the right moment to proceed or make a decision is crucial for our own happiness and his continuing plan of salvation and redemption for the world. To refuse to listen to God’s voice, or to doubt his leadership in our lives, puts us at risk for missed opportunities for peace and blessing.

Dear God, thank You for your protection each day. Give me courage to accomplish all that I can for You today. 

“A final word: Be strong with the Lord’s mighty power.”  Ephesians 6:10  NLT

Dogs love to play tug-of-war. How many toys of ball and rope can one dog have in a lifetime? Apparently, not too many. They are especially handy when a puppy just has to have something in its mouth. I would pull Famous with his jaw clamped down on one side of the toy enough to engage his full strength and then give him a little slack. Back and forth we would go to the point of low growls from him. He never seemed to tire, but when I was ready to admit defeat, he always ended up with the toy.

I should be more like him when it comes to spiritual endurance. Unfortunately, most of us try to defend ourselves from dark powers by our own strengths such as intelligence, ingenuity, and influence. These can only carry us but so far, and often they deceive us instead into believing we can conquer evil without the true source of power — God. Without him, we fall prey to the daily routine which lulls us into complacency, rather than vigilance.

Dear Lord, renew my strength and bless me with your Spirit.