“I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I am the Lord. You will see that I have done everything just as I promised.”  Ezekiel 37:14  NLT

Our lives are full of circles: openings and closings, greetings and farewells. I walk out with Famous each day, and at some point we turn around for home. I drive off to work during the week with the same ending — I get to head home when the day is done. Famous is a pretty good navigator when we walk the neighborhood. He knows the familiar route. When given a choice he sometimes chooses a different path, but usually he is excited to be walking just about anywhere. However, he does not like to retrace his steps. So whether we walk back on the opposite side of the street or I let him cut behind a house instead of in front, we eventually do end up back at the same front door.

The greatest circle in our lives leads us back to the throne of God. Having been separated from him by sin, our journey is not complete until we return to the Source of life, to our Creator. We may choose a difficult path every now and then, and sometimes we become lost, but God is always there directing and protecting if we are truly trying to find our way home.

Today, dear Lord, fill my heart with the hope and encouragement of your leading and protection. 

“God surely knows where [wisdom] can be found, for he looks throughout the whole earth, under all the heavens. He made the winds blow and determined how much rain should fall. He made the laws of the rain and prepared a path for the lightning. Then, when he had done all this, he saw wisdom and measured it. He established it and examined it thoroughly. And this is what he says to all humanity: ‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.'”  Job 28:23-28  NLT

On days when showers stop and start all day long, a dog walker has to watch the skies, or in my case a weather app, to know when a short walk will be possible. It may mean stopping a project or a TV program just to take advantage of a few minutes when Famous and I will not get soaked. A springer’s coat allows him to repel some moisture, but a saturated coat can stay wet for a long time.

When he was a year old, I bought Famous a yellow doggie slicker. It worked well once I was able to get it on him, and that was no easy feat. First, all four paws had to be placed in small sleeves. (I found front, then rear, worked best if he remained patient.) Then a Velcro strip was fastened down the entire back of the jacket. And finally, yes, there was a hood that attached as well. Dressing him was quite the achievement! But my satisfaction was diminished by his look of disdain. Happily, he didn’t seem to mind once the opportunity to leave the house presented itself. He quickly outgrew the slicker, and it was never replaced.

It may have been foolish trying to protect Famous in such a way from the elements. What is not foolishness is the awareness he brings to me of God’s presence. Famous is a source of joy and satisfaction because God has measured our affection and the time we have together and has poured it out in abundance. In this case, “fear” of the Lord can easily be understood as acknowledgement of his role in our everyday lives.

Teach me, O Lord, to find You in the order of the day and the circumstances in which I find myself. 

“Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.”  Psalm 33:2  NLT

As April slips into May and warmer winds caress the earth, there are but a few crisp nights which prohibit the final packing away of scarves and sweaters still needed to walk Famous. On those early mornings when the house still requires the mild use of the furnace, Famous might spend a few moments in his dog bed nestled under his soft blanket while I make coffee and plans to get the day started. You could hardly see him budge once he has found the right spot, and I hate to disturb him even to suggest we see what’s going on out in the yard.

To follow Christ we have to allow ourselves to find the right spot of tranquility, obedience, and understanding. His mantle of love surrounds us with encouragement, protection, and blessing, allowing us to mature in faith and Christian service. His love is undeniable and easily detected in those who put others first and deny themselves to honor him. Many others will claim to be Christian in order to sway approval, but unless you see God’s blanket of love about them, you can trust they are not speaking with his authority.

Let me wear your blanket of love, Lord, that I might confidently preach your truth. 

 

“His clothing was as white as snow, his hair like whitest wool.”  Daniel 7:9b

Springers have striking coloring and markings with their dark black or liver coats against impressive white feathering. When groomed and clean, they can be quite majestic. Famous often gets compliments on our walks outside the neighborhood, particularly by those who know springers. Even when I am aware he needs a bath, people will ask me how I keep his hair so white!

In the narrative of Daniel’s vision of the four beasts, the ultimate victor is the “Ancient One” or the “Ancient of Days.” With clothing “as white as snow” and “hair like whitest wool” the Lord issues in the everlasting reign and bestows it upon his holy people forever. History will have its time when cursed leaders will have power, but they will ultimately be destroyed. As followers of Christ, the one to whom God gives all authority, honor, and power, we must be vigilant against those who do not honor the Ancient of Days, our God Who always was and Who shall forever be.

God, I call upon your eternal Presence to preserve me and those I love. Teach me to honor You all of the days of my life.

“But God made the earth by his power, and he preserves it by his wisdom. He has stretched out the heavens by his understanding.”  Jeremiah 10:12  NLT

I suppose few things could make me happier than sitting under the full expanse of the night sky with Famous on a beach. Add a full moon, and you might hear us both howling in grateful praise! The advantage of taking him for nightly walks is a rekindling of my love of astronomy and keeping up with the phasing of the moon and the march of the planets. We also catch quite a few shooting stars. Perhaps for a short time we can be the earthly version of Orion and Canis Major (the Great Dog), two of my favorite and brightest constellations.

The more science discovers new horizons on our planet and in the universe, the more I am convinced there is a power that set the universe in motion and governs it by His wisdom. Even leading minds have questioned how all of this could be completely random. Still, it is fascinating how we discover new principles and players all the time which challenge us to see beyond what we already know.

The hope given to all of us is that even after a hard day’s work in the heavens, God still ordained that Famous and I should be together in this place at this time. Perhaps, one day, too, we will be in the heavens as well.

God, help me to see your love for me in the beauty of the universe. 

“O Lord, God of Heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, listen to my prayer!”  Nehemiah 1:5 -6a  NLT

Perhaps one of the special considerations of having Famous in my life is the constant reminder of God’s unfailing love. A dog’s love is unwavering and it is instinctive. But God’s love is more than affirming me as a companion. His love is immeasurable. It is the love that created me, sustains me, protects me, and champions me. God’s love is the love that gives this life meaning and offers eternal life beyond this one.

Famous loves me morning, noon, and night. He loves me when I have forgotten him and when I have neglected him. He loves me when I am having a great day, and he loves me when my day isn’t so great. He is there for me. No matter what I’m feeling, he wants to share it with me. He gets excited when I am excited. He wants to comfort when I am sad. He makes me want to play as a boy and share his life as we both age. His eyes are observant and vigilant, and his ears are sentries. He inspires me.

This is how I know God gave him to me.

I will praise God, awesome and great, and know He will hear my prayers because He has done great things.

“The Lord will bring me out of my darkness into the light, and I will see his righteousness.”  Micah 7:9b  NLT

Famous has a very good memory for the layout of our neighborhood. He knows where cars are supposed to be parked and where different sidewalks and paths run. During our walks I have found he has to investigate anything that is out of place, a trailer or a trash can, for example. Different vehicles may be parked by workers hired by a homeowner or the association. So I thought it was very curious when he started circling a neighbor’s truck one day. He was obviously interested in something that even I could not see. It turned out the neighbor had cleaned out packaged chicken from his refrigerator and placed the bags in the bed of the truck.

Hope and faith depend on our curiosity to discover what God has set before us. It may be a new career or relationship. We may go about our lives completely in the blind until we allow God to open our eyes to the possibilities of what can be accomplished with his help. Only then can He achieve his purpose in us.

Renew my hope today, O God, by keeping my heart open to your possibilities.

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'”  Jeremiah 29:11  NLT

Happy birthday, Famous! You were born in a litter of seven puppies, all male, and all liver and white. You came to live with me in late June when you were only ten weeks old. I had been expecting you to come into my life for about six months, and I eagerly followed the progress of your mother and her litter until the time was right for me to make the five-hour trip to meet you for the first time.

Having you in my life has been a wonderful blessing, more fun than work. You have been blessed with health, beauty, and an amazing temperament. I have experienced the gifts of companionship and devotion. But even more amazing to me is my belief in God as the Master Designer of our years together.

And because of this belief, I understand Famous to be more of a gift than a pet owned by me. He was chosen for me with the intent that I would honor his life and give praise to God for allowing me to be his care-giver. Over the years our bond has grown stronger as I have seen him bless so many lives with his mere presence.

God has a plan for each of us, and his design is only for us to be perfected in his image. This is the future and hope of those who believe in Him. He has placed us in this world and at this time with all the tools and gifts we need to grow in a right relationship with Him. We just need to understand how to find and honor the gifts He has created to be the blessings in our lives.

Each day is a day of blessing, Lord! I will seek to find the gifts You have created for me today.

“For the Lord does not abandon anyone forever.”  Lamentations 3:31  NLT

Can a dog sense the passage of time? I had a friend laugh once when I said I needed to return home because Famous would be expecting me. He tried to reason that dogs cannot tell if you have been away twenty minutes or twenty days.

They may not be able to tell time, but certainly dogs understand routine. I believe Famous expects to be fed everyday and walked a certain number of times a day. He allows me to drive away in the mornings because this is part of our routine. And, I have yet to leave him and never return.

If I come home in the middle of the day, it seems to catch him off guard. Instead of running to the door to say hello, he looks at me from the hallway with his head cocked to one side as if he is wondering what I am doing home at this hour!

Of course, I would never abandon Famous. But, at times I do have to leave him behind. The author of Lamentations understood that those who trust in God may not always have easy lives. There can be suffering, illness, and despair; therefore, they may feel as if God has forgotten them. My intention is to always return to Famous, but God never abandons us. When the season and timing is perfect, He allows us to understand the paths we have traveled–paths where He was always with us.

I will not fear nor doubt that God is near me all the time. 

“You will have courage because you will have hope. You will be protected and will rest in safety.”  Job 11:18  NLT

Having Famous with me in the house does give me an increased sense of security. He is a sound and peaceful dog asleep, but it takes only a bit of a strange or unexpected noise during the night to wake him and cause him to alert me of potential danger. Thankfully, we live on a quiet street, so there are few disturbances in the neighborhood during the late hours. His response to a danger inside or outside the house would be far quicker to mine while asleep.

These words of encouragement to Job were meant to lay responsibility for his misfortune at his own feet. But the world is full of dangers and disappointments no matter the strength of a believer’s faith. As they say, “Bad things happen to good people.” Faith in God cannot erase the fragility of the existence we keep on earth. But it can prepare us to react with conviction and confidence that He has not forgotten us and has suffered with us.

Father, You alone can hear my voice when I cry in need. My hope is restored in the knowledge that You are always there.