“I assure you that you can say to this mountain, ‘May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,’ and your command will be obeyed. All that’s required is that you really believe and do not doubt in your heart.”  Mark 11:23  NLT

I remember the first day Famous saw the ocean. He looked at me as if he were thinking, “Is this real?“ Then, once off of his lead he was racing out along the beach, warm, soft sand under his paws. Then with the hot sun on his back, the runs in and out of the surf were as playful as any game he had ever played. It was a glimpse into dog heaven! I mused that he must be thinking, “Can we get one of these in our backyard?“ It was totally worth the thirty minutes it took to rinse the sand out of his fur.

The faith Famous has in me must be far greater than my faith in God. In order to move a mountain, it seems no doubt in my heart has to exist. And yet, I know I doubt every single day. It is this doubt, however, which encourages me to struggle in my faith, one which is also daily renewed. I understand that my joy, by way of faith in God, can be as wonderful as Fame’s day on the beach.

Lord, I place my trust in You. Open my heart to faith that I may know the true joy of celebrating life with You.

 

“Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge.”  Psalm 16:1  NLT

Part of the duty of being a responsible pet owner is giving your dog a safe environment. And yet Famous exhibits instinctive habits which tell of a time when canines had to protect themselves. Because his ancestors found safety in protective surroundings such as caves, Famous will resort to retreating beneath the bed, table, desk, or chair whenever he feels the need for an extra sense of security.

For example, he daily settles under the table as I leave each morning. He sulks under the same table when I run the vacuum. He climbs under the bed whenever he suspects I am preparing his bath. And when he was able to accompany me to work, you would often find him sleeping underneath my desk.

We have a retreat as well. It is into the arms of God. I find this to be a natural instinct–to return to the safety of my Creator. There I find truth, understanding, comfort, and strength to resolve the tensions building in my life. God continues to protect me.

Let me rest in your arms today, God. Keep me safe from my enemies.

“That is why we live by believing, not by seeing.”  II Corinthians 5:7  NLT

You have heard the scripture quote “live by faith and not by sight.“ I am reminded of it many times in a world that chooses to follow the other rule: seeing is believing. Famous is the one who reminds me seeing is not always believing. He prefers to follow another rule: looks can be deceiving. Because a dog’s sense of smell is far superior to his sense of sight, the proof is in the smell.

There are many signals that I have arrived home: the sound of the car pulling into the driveway, the sequence of key to lock maneuvers, and the familiar sound of my voice. But with all of these clues added to the sight of me coming through the door, Famous always greets me with several sniffs to prove I am who he thinks I am.

Christians have a daily walk of faith which is not always easy to see. The apostle Paul understood that science, what we can see, could never explain our connection to God which transcends our earthly bodies. Faith is the ingredient which helps the believer “know” his true Master.

God, strengthen my faith today that I may better see the path You have set before me.

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

Although I have previously described Fame’s attachment as a Velcro dog, meaning he wants to know where I am all the time, he can also be independent and do his own thing. He may go out to sit on the deck or take a snooze on his bed as long as my activity is within earshot. But when I plop down in a chair to watch television or drink my coffee, he takes the opportunity to solicit a scratch behind the ear or a belly rub.

But often in the early morning, as we are starting the day, he will approach with apparently no other agenda but to be close to me. He will sometimes put his front paws up in my lap just to receive a hug. Perhaps in some way he is offering a hug as I am about to depart for a busy day out in the world.

This is such a peaceful moment it casts out all worry and fear of the day which lies ahead. Such is the peace offered by God to anyone who will trust him and allow him to guide their thoughts. But His is a perfect peace which can heal, protect, and direct.

As this morning breaks, Lord, settle my thoughts and my concerns and use me to direct others to Your peace.

“Let me hear of your unfailing love to me in the morning, for I am trusting you.”  Psalm 143:8  NLT

Not only does Famous enjoy his morning walks, he can be very enthusiastic to cross the street and leave our development. He knows there are even more wonderful scents in the park than along our neighborhood curbs. The only problem is the street we cross is a busy connector street in our city. During rush hour we would have to wait minutes for a chance to cross the street. And when there is little traffic, people are notorious for driving over the speed limit through that stretch of road.

For a dog eager to get to the park this is potentially disastrous. So our custom has become for me to always tell Famous to sit before we cross the street. He has learned to wait for my command when it is time to cross. He may only see the command as it leads to the reward of getting to the park. I know it offers a higher level of safety and control, and it lets drivers know we are in a stationary position.

What if we saw each day as an opportunity to cross the street–only we would be waiting for God to give us the O.K. to proceed with our plans? Then He could guide us around unseen dangers and demonstrate his love for us.

Teach me to wait for You, Lord, to direct me where and when I am needed today.”

“Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.”  Psalm 37:3  NLT

Each work day morning as I am hurrying out the door, the last event is a word of goodbye spoken to Famous. He has already found his temporary spot of security underneath the dining table and watches me as I routinely gather my coat and coffee. I will often find myself saying, “Be good!“ as I prepare to pull and lock the front door.

I will be the first to question whether or not that statement has any bearing on his behavior while I am away. But I do know it is part of our ritual, and it must give him some assurance that I have blessed my departure with familiar words which he hears nearly every day. He neither barks or whines. He just endures the hardship of saying goodbye as all of us learn to do.

But God never leaves us. He has instructed us to do good because through fulfilling his command we find blessing. This can direct our daily path allowing us to find the peace and purpose God intends for us to know.

And there is one more ritual Famous and I share. After I lock the door we walk to the front window, he on the inside and I on the outside, where I wave goodbye before I open the car door and drive away.

On this day’s journey, Lord, guide me with your goodness.

“The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him sincerely.”  Psalm 145:18  NLT

Naming a dog has become an art. Dogs which are registered often have official names as well as nicknames. The name of Fame’s sire was My Way, but he was called Bobby. The names can be quite fancy and related to one another. For example, Fame’s grandpa was named Pawmarc’s Northern Lights. And that dog’s mother was named Pawmarc’s Neon Highlights. As you can see, the official name could be quite a mouthful if you found yourself walking through the neighborhood trying to call your dog home.

God is always available if we only call. This may seem odd or strange if we only pray during a crisis. But no matter the circumstances, God hears even the one lamb that has gone astray. God has many names in the Bible to help illuminate how He relates to his people. But simply calling him God or Father will open the lines of communication.

Father, hear my voice and listen to my prayer.

“He will not let you stumble and fall; the one who watches over you will not sleep.”  Psalm 121:3  NLT

God is always on duty. His love is not fickle. He does not take a vacation from guiding and protecting us. As much as I love Famous, my love cannot compare with the love God has for me. I have to leave Famous alone almost daily, and sometimes I will make choices with less than desirable outcomes for him.

But God is worthy of our trust. He can handle the questions we have about our futures and our faith in a world that seems to be leaving Him behind. Famous trusts that I will protect and provide for him. I see that he gets his inoculations and his flea protection. But I will also try to be there to get burrs out of his ears or tangles out of his coat. I will read the ingredients in his dog food, and I will see that he always has fresh water.

When we hike we often encounter steep paths with large steps and sudden drop-offs. I am there to help choose the path that will keep us both safe. God is there to help guide me through each day by His steadfast love.

God, shine your light upon my path today that I may know You and your protection are near. 

“Where is another God like you, who pardons the sins of the survivors among his people? You cannot stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing mercy.”  Micah 7:18  NLT

Trust between a dog and its master is a two way street. We hear a great deal about getting a dog to trust you, but an even greater deal is being able to trust your dog! After reaching a certain age, Famous became very trustworthy to stay at home by himself without getting into mischief. By mischief, I mean tearing down the blinds or scratching up the front door.

If you choose to honor the relationship with a dog, you must select the “tricks” which can best enhance your coexistence. For example, Famous knows not to beg at the table. If he wants to be near me when I am eating, he must lie down on the floor. I have even heard of owners who have trained their dogs to never enter the dining room while their masters are eating.

God knows we cannot perform every spiritual discipline every day. But if we practice what we already know brings us closer to Him, be it prayer, sacrifice, or service, then we can trust He will bless us with his favor.

I will trust God to help me learn how to worship Him with my life.

“Praise the Lord, everything he has created, everywhere in his kingdom. As for me–I, too, will praise the Lord.”  Psalm 103:22  NLT

One of the advantages of owning a dog is the opportunity to take outdoor walks. And one of the blessings of walking outside is experiencing the beauty of God’s creation. When it is cold, you see nature’s frost and crystals. When it is windy, you hear the wind in the leaves. And when it is dark, you might just catch the sight of a shooting star as I did this evening. Now I have seen plenty of meteors and a handful of comets, but I would not have seen this one and been reminded of God’s creation if I had been simply watching television inside of my house.

Invite those things into your life that remind you of God. We are created to praise Him, and to ignore our calling is to diminish God’s creation. However, if you choose to praise the Lord, to keep his song in your heart throughout the day, then the God of all creation will bless you.

I praise God when I acknowledge how He has blessed me with a dog such as Famous–his ambassador of praise!

Lord, I praise you for the beauty of your creation. Take me today and teach me to look up to your heavens.