“May God be merciful and bless us. May his face shine with favor upon us.”  Psalm 67:1  NLT

Most dogs if kept bathed and groomed are handsome creatures. However, Famous has an excellent coat and markings which help him to get more than his share of compliments when we are out in public. As a new dog owner, I was really mesmerized by the sheen and color of his coat in the first sunlight of the morning. Set against the fresh green of new grass, his liver and white coat almost glowed with the sunbeams. I would say he was well-favored.

Just as God can kiss this magnificent creation with the light of day, so his face can shine with favor upon us as sung in this beautiful psalm. You don’t have to be at the beach to watch the sunrise or even have a sunny day to feel the warmth of God’s love. His blessings are all around. I continue to receive his blessing through Famous for he constantly reminds me of God’s favor. But truly for each of us, God has placed a person, a pet, a creation, or even an angel to help impart his love and care.

Dear God, direct your light upon my path and into my heart. 

“For the Lord will go ahead of you, and the God of Israel will protect you from behind.”  Isaiah 52:12b  NLT

I love to walk Famous. I live at the end of the road, and our path nearly always takes us to the opposite end and back. This can take anywhere between fifteen and twenty minutes depending on the number of “sniff” spots and how many other dogs we encounter. He gets a minimum of three walks daily and longer walks if I am home during the day. This adds up to a minimum of forty-five to sixty minutes every day!

The two of us walking must be a familiar sight to our neighbors from inside their kitchen windows. Famous usually takes the lead as this is designated as his time. He has to be on a lead since we are within the city limits, but I made the choice when he was young to not force him to adhere to a “heel” command since we do not usually walk on crowded downtown sidewalks. He gets to set the pace and the course. At times I encourage him to take one path over another, but we eventually end up back at home.

Just as I walk behind to insure we are out of the way of cars, God protects me from all that would endanger my path. He has a plan which He prepares for me, and the more time I spend with Him, the more I can see the path He would have me to choose.

I praise You, God, for your protection. Help me practice the way of choosing the path which is right today.

“Happy are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home!”  Proverbs 8:34  NLT

As a general rule Famous has not been given permission to climb up on the furniture. He has his designated spot at the foot of the bed, but chairs and sofas are off limits. That is, when I am at home. He has found the choice spot for watching the world go by and waiting for me to return is a plush, leather upholstered armchair which sits in front of a window facing the street. It obviously gives him a great and comfortable viewing spot. I have conceded to leave a quilt over this chair for its protection. And his face in the window makes me very happy to be home again. By the time I unlock the front door he has abandoned his secret perch and is eagerly ready to greet me. Not knowing his trick has been discovered, he is once again the obedient pet.

Each day gives us the opportunity of seeking the Lord. This is a joyous task with the promise of his tender mercy and care. We disobey his instructions at times, and in those moments we lose fellowship with Him. He knows our hearts and our deeds, but He is willing to have us return to his home for a blessed reunion.

I will watch for the Lord and daily invite Him into my heart.

“Listen to my counsel and be wise. Don’t ignore it.”  Proverbs 8:33  NLT

Communication is a two-way street. Just as I can train Famous to fetch or stay, he has been working on training me as well. Truly, he rarely asks anything of me. I suppose that means I may be doing a decent job of providing for him. But there can be times he asserts his will against mine. Then it becomes my responsibility to interpret his intentions.

There are a few examples of this. The most frequent is letting me know he wants to go outside. There are four signals he can give depending on the importance. The first is the excited bark when he spots a squirrel or cat in the yard. This is an urgent request as there is a need to initiate a chase. The second is the whimper at the door. This is less urgent and usually means, “I want to sit outside if it’s OK.“ The third signal is retrieval of his lead and bringing it to me which pretty much means, “I think I’m long overdue a stroll through the yard, and you’d better get a move on if you don’t want me to be miserable.” Finally, there is the sitting at my feet with frozen stare into my eyes, as if he were hypnotizing me. I usually interpret this as “Won’t you please pay attention to me? How about a nice walk together?”

Communication with God is also both ways. But given that He has every desire to care for me and to lead me through this life, it is my responsibility to learn to listen to his voice.

Dear Lord, help me to hear Your truth and to heed Your counsel.

“Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding.”  Proverbs 2:2  NLT

Dogs can hear approximately four times the distance of humans. I have often noticed Famous reacting to car doors closing near the house or sirens screaming on our walks before I do. He is like a radio broadcaster telling me to stand by for an important announcement. I make a point not to listen to music when we are walking for two reasons. The first is to be able to react quickly to any sudden danger such as a bicycle approaching us from behind, and the second is to share a bit of his sensory world.

Dogs can also use those ears to hear our “emotional’ broadcasts. Famous may have a limited vocabulary, but he understands when I am loving, frustrated, sad, or angry by the tone of my voice. He knows when I am most approachable and when it is best to leave me to the task at hand.

With so many distractions in the world it can be difficult to “tune in” to God. If we make listening to God’s prompting a part of our every day, then He can also give us a forecast of what is going to transpire.

Open my ears, Lord, and help me to listen. 

“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that he will stand upon the earth at last.”  Job 19:25  NLT

No matter the number of times Famous sees me preparing to take out the garbage, he goes into his happy dance. He knows the garbage bag does not sit on the kitchen floor (much to his chagrin) and that soon the door will open to the backyard with all of its glories. He runs through the living room tossing one of his stuffed toys in the air, wagging his tail madly with anticipation, waiting for his chance to accompany me to the trash can.

The certainty of the living Christ brings a joyous assurance. This assurance guides us in our choices, our actions, and our responses. It is a shared satisfaction among believers knowing we have this common faith. No matter the number of times we are confronted by our awareness of a Redeemer, we are plunged into His mercy and grace with humility and thanksgiving.

Jesus, continue to thrill me until You spill over into my day.

“Follow anything that makes you want to do right. Pursue faith and love and peace, and enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.”  II Timothy 2:22b  NLT

Who says dogs can’t go to church? In October, near the day of Saint Francis of Assisi, you can probably find a local congregation that celebrates a worship service called The Blessing of the Animals. I have led such a service in which participants bring all manner of God’s creatures for a blessing. Dogs, cats, hamsters, ponies–all are welcome. I have even had a turtle in attendance!

One of the sweetest parts of the ceremony comes when the pet owners can share an expression of thanks or a story such as how the pets came into their lives. Then we quickly discover that we are the ones who are blessed everyday by these creatures. In many cases it is obvious that an animal can supply much needed gifts of companionship, therapy, and protection. The service allows us to acknowledge that all good gifts come from our heavenly Father.

For me, Famous is a wondrous embodiment of the gift of life that only God can give. By honoring that gift with love and protection, I am honoring God. By helping others to find a pet, or whatever it is in life that reminds them of God’s presence, I am serving God.

Lord, teach me to enjoy life by finding You in life!

“I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again.”  II Timothy 1:4  NLT

Springers are companion dogs. (Some call them Velcro dogs.) This contributed to the separation anxiety Famous exhibited in my first efforts to leave him alone. Even though he would sleep and travel in his crate as a puppy, leaving him in the crate unattended in the house turned out to be a terrible solution. When I would return home after leaving him crated for a few hours, I would find him completely spent, sweaty, and sometimes bloody from either trying to free himself or trying to come after me. As little as he was, he had shifted his crate across the entire floor to the opposite side of the room. He and the room looked like a disaster. It took several weeks (and several claw marks in the front door) for him to eventually trust me to leave him alone in the house (but outside of his prison).

I remember those sad, desperate puppy yelps. Now when I have to leave him alone, he calmly goes directly under the dining room table to watch me leave with no protest. However, the joy we have when I come home is always a celebration!

Separation can be difficult, especially if it is forced. I truly believe, however, that any separation from God arises from our part and not God’s. He is the eternal Father waiting for the prodigal child to come home.

Dear God, help me to become a “Velcro” disciple.

“But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive everything promised to us who are right with God through faith.”  Galatians 5:5  NLT

I read that it is important to talk to your puppy/dog so that he will know your voice, your mood, and a fair amount of vocabulary. (This was quite a change for me when it was normal for the first words each day out of my mouth to be “Good morning” to my secretary. Now a couple of hours before I leave the house I am not only greeting Famous but also explaining how the day is going to go and what time I will be home for dinner.)

One of those special words is “walk.” Famous hears it and understands, even if delayed, it is eminent. It is a promise of a wonderful world where he can stretch his legs, spot a squirrel or rabbit, and catch up on the latest “smell-mail” sent between dogs. Not much compares when it comes to making him happy.

The happiness of Christians is one of a shared faith. Faith that the wonderful blessings of peace, love, and joy are promised through our obedience to God. We should be equally eager to walk through each day anticipating the joy of heaven on earth as we are to one day sharing heaven in God’s presence.

Father, make me eager to cherish your promises.

“Jesus shouted to the crowds, ‘If you trust me, you are really trusting God who sent me.”  John 12:44  NLT

Trust and obedience go hand in hand. I can tell Famous to sit and stay, and as long as I have him in a safe environment, be it at home, in a store, or in a hotel room, he will obey and allow me to go from his sight–because he trusts that I will return. Each time I do this, I reinforce the assurance in his trust.

Our trust in the Lord can only come if we are obedient to him. I am not speaking of the obedience to the pulpit as much as I am speaking of obedience to our God-given consciousness. Yes, it is imperfect, and yes, the Ten Commandments are a great way to start, but we have to learn that every decision and every act must be based in the model and teachings of Christ. Our obedience to follow Christ is translated into trusting God with our lives, our well-being, and our eternal salvation.

Father, help me to realize each step today should be a step of faith.