“But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and livestock with him in the boat. He sent a wind to blow across the earth, and the floodwaters began to recede.”  Genesis 8:1  NLT

Famous is a water dog. And although he rarely has the chance to jump into water (unless it is in a bathtub), he never misses an opportunity once it presents itself. We were invited a few years ago to a nearby friend’s farm. It was a lovely day and the setting secure enough for Famous to run free. If that were not the best way to start an afternoon, he also had new dog buddies! He would run ahead and dart back and wonder why I was not happily running around too.

Then he found it — one of the farm’s two small ponds! I knew there was no denying him the pleasure, and without waiting for me to give the “OK,“ he dived in. Now his buddies had played this game before, and my friend knew all she had to do was hose them off back at the house. But the green pond scum blanketing the surface of the water found a new home in Fame’s white feathering. Suddenly, he looked more like a creature from the green lagoon. And it is a good thing Famous likes water, because it took nearly five baths to shampoo the mess off of him.

God is a refuge in the worst of circumstances. He will not forsake us. He is mighty to save.

Help me, Lord, not only when I know I am in danger but also when unforeseen evil is upon me. 

“Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.”  Psalm 33:22  NLT

Famous has acquired many toys since he was a puppy. The very first stuffed objects suffered his boisterous play and teething and were discarded a long time ago. A few “clever” doggie toys given as gifts were only able to survive about five minutes before their purpose of entertainment was spent. Then there is the congregation of plush items that have managed to stand the test of time and teeth and have been anointed as his favorites.

His favorites include a stuffed rabbit, duck, and puppy dog. They have all lost their ability to squeak, but somehow as the rabbit “velveteen” survived, so have they. Perhaps his choice among his companions is the stuffed puppy which resembles a small Saint Bernard. (It even has a little keg under his chin.) It seems this is the item that has had the most trips through the laundry, and the most eagerly reunited with its owner.

Most often when I return in the afternoon, Famous greets me with one of his toys, and many times it is his “pup-pup” that he brings in his mouth. One day, however, I came home and he had surrounded himself with five or six of his friends. I assumed they were having a party while I was away.

Like the toy fellowship which Famous assembled that day, God’s love surrounds us constantly providing love, protection, strength, and comfort. And better still, it will never disintegrate.

Thank You, God, for your circle of love!

“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again — my Savior and my God!”  Psalm 42:5  NLT

We do not know the full range of a dog’s emotions. We can obviously sense when a dog is excited, or frightened, or at peace. The more time I spend with Famous, the more I am able to read his moods. And he does have a variety! Perhaps, this is one of the reasons we relate to dogs so easily. More than most animals, they possess the quality of revealing how the world affects them moment by moment.

Everyday, if I am called away, I watch Famous display a resolute disappointment knowing I am about to leave and he is going to be left behind. Then with equal expression, he celebrates my return later that day.

If I consider how fickle our hope is in God, then I am glad I have a reminder in Famous that our hearts can quickly be turned to praise. We must accept that life will be filled with peaks and valleys. But we should take heart that He desires to be in constant fellowship with us.

Dear God, take my sadness, acknowledge it as a part of who I am as a human, and transform it into your everlasting joy!

“After supper he took another cup of wine and said, ‘This cup is the new covenant between God and his people–an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.'”  Luke 22:20  NLT

One of the essentials of pet ownership is a constant supply of fresh water available to your pet. Once I committed to bringing a dog into the house, a water bowl went on the kitchen tiles and the lids to the toilet seats went down. Feeding requires a once or twice a day remembrance, but the water bowl requires checking every time I step into the kitchen. Plus, the water bowl, or a variant of it, has to be portable in case you are away from the house on a long, hot road trip or hike.

This is the agreement I made with Famous: he will always have water in his dish. I check it in the morning, before I leave for work, as soon as I get home, before and after his supper, and before bed.

Christ has given us a renewable covenant symbolized by the cup of wine from the Lord’s Supper and representative of the blood He shed on Calvary. This cup will never go empty, and the number of people who can drink from it is limitless.

Jesus, I praise You for your everlasting love for me. 

“Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live.”  John 14:19  NLT

One of the games I would play with Famous inside the house was hide and seek. And one of the best places to hide was the bedroom closet. It was such an unexpected place for him to look that I could hear him go past the door two and three times searching for me. I would stand completely frozen for fear of making a noise, even taking the shallowest of breaths. Finally, when he had figured out that I was out of sight, he started hunting me down with his sense of smell. His nose close to the carpet, he came closer and closer until he was convinced I was inside and started scratching at the door.

Christ is only hidden from our eyes. Yet, He is still among us. As little children we learned that He lives in our hearts. This is one way of explaining that we must use other senses to find him. We must hear him in the advocacy for human dignity and freedom. We must feel him in the embrace of fellow believers and the worn hands of his workers. We must know him in our prayers and in our dreams.

This is our hope — to see Christ face to face. This is his promise to us.

Lord Jesus, bless me today by showing me your face in others. 

“And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.”  Philippians 1:6  NLT

I often think of the wonderful work of nature I see in Famous. Most of what I see is the result of careful breeding for his form and his temperament. He is the “bench” variety of springer spaniel, bred for shape and show. His cousin, the “field” variety is the dog used for hunting. But beyond his outward appearance he has also received a sweet disposition, able to give and receive affection, excellent around children, and eager to please. Dogs grow up quickly and now Famous is middle-aged, just like me. I have been able to watch his successful growth and development under my care through the years, and it has been rewarding.

Famous reminds me that God has a plan for my life. He continues to watch over my instruction and ministry, leading me in paths of service. I have strengths which He has given to me to use for his glory, and I have weaknesses which He is helping me to overcome. The success of God’s work within me depends on my willingness to serve Him and to make my heart and mind obedient to Him.

I pray today, God, that you will show me the great blessing I can be when I allow You to work through me. 

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you!”  Isaiah 26:3  NLT

For me, one of the greatest joys was holding Famous in my arms those first few weeks as a puppy. He took refuge and comfort having me near. As he grew older, cuddling him in my arms became more problematic. Springers are medium-sized dogs and do not make good lap dogs. But I soon realized whenever I would take a seat, his head would be near my hand waiting for a pat. And when I would watch television, I would abandon the sofa for a seat on the floor so that Famous could curl up beside me. That is when you could notice an audible sigh from him professing the peace he was feeling.

The peace I feel when I am connected to my heavenly Father is similar in fact. It allows me to completely let go and give myself over to the comfort and protection of my Creator. All worries melt away, and for the moment I am in perfect peace.

Grant me the peace that can only come from You.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.”  Proverbs 3:5-6  NLT

The neighborhood quiets down at night, so occasionally Famous gets to take his late walk with me off of his lead. He usually stays close by, and keeps a distance of only a few yards. When we encounter an intersection or a cul-de-sac he looks to see which way I am heading. Even if he is a little ahead of me, he will look back to see which way I point for him to turn. He knows we are better as a team, or in his mind a pack, and it is beneficial to work together.

It seems that trusting someone with more experience, wisdom, and understanding would be an easy choice for us to make. Why is it, then, that we so often forget to ask for God’s guidance? Instead, we rush into unknown territory in the darkness and find ourselves in dangerous or costly surroundings.

The heart is the source of our trust in God. By repeatedly opening the heart to his counsel, we discover the true path is not necessarily the one we would have chosen. But I believe it can be as instinctive as Famous choosing to follow my lead.

Guide my heart, my will, and my feet today, O God.

“Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”  Psalm 27:14  NLT

How patiently Famous at times waits for me! I am sure when it is time for me to clip him he would much rather be somewhere else. Imagine how hard it would be to groom him if he fought me during the whole process, not to mention the disastrous results! But instead, with only a small amount of encouragement, he waits patiently while I use clippers and comb and scissors on his ears, neck, and feet.

How patient are we to allow God to work with us each day? Is it not a better plan to start each day focused on quiet reflection on how we might look for his guidance? It certainly does not take much in a busy world to be distracted from God’s voice. And though it is easy to want to do things our own way, it takes more courage to allow God to reveal his plan in his time. Certainly, God knows the best way to cultivate our gifts and use them for his purposes which in turn bring us the greatest blessing.

Teach me to be patient, God, that I might grow in courage and allow You to direct my day.

“And now, dear children, continue to live in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.”  I John 2:28  NLT

Reunions with those we love are joyous. Even the daily reunion with Famous after a day’s work is a true celebration for us both. The reunion would not be so happy if our bond were not based in trust and daily fellowship. Nurturing our relationship has been fun, looking for new places to explore and finding new ways to see the world.

Our reunion with Christ will be the most joyous celebration of all! How will we find the courage to be prepared to participate in his coming? The answer is by appreciating and enjoying the fellowship of fellow believers. Otherwise, we are in danger of not recognizing our Lord when he returns. How we live in fellowship with one another becomes the rehearsal for the day when we will see our Savior face to face and know in our hearts that we belong with him.

Dear Jesus, help me to recognize You in your children around me so that I may better know your face.