“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me.”  John 10:14  NLT

Whether I have been away a few hours or a few days, Famous is ready to give me an excited greeting when I return. How does he know I am the one opening the door and not a stranger? To be sure, we have our routine so he expects me to return about the same time on most days. But then He also recognizes my car by sight and sound, and when I pull in front of the house I can see him jumping from his perch in the front window to run to the door. Finally, as if the sight of me and the sound of my voice were not enough, he takes a big whiff to verify beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am the one returning.

How good is a dog‘s sense of smell? It is estimated a dog’s sense of smell could be millions of times more sensitive than our own. So while it may appear that Famous is just checking my ID, he is probably discovering what I had for lunch and if I petted the poodle up the street.

We are uniquely loved and identified by Christ, the good shepherd. Were that our sense of awareness of him was magnified a million fold!

Christ, help me to find You and know You throughout the day ahead.

“He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need there is.”  Acts 17:25b  NLT

Dogs differ from children in that a child grows into adulthood to lead his or her own life, whereas dogs are dependent upon you from when you bring them home as puppies all the way into their golden years. Anticipating the changing needs of nutrition, activity, and perception can help both of you to navigate the different stages of a dog’s life.

Famous recently began exhibiting a stumble during our daily walks. I suspected it was due to the impact to his shoulder from years of jumping off of the bed. Hoping I could teach him a new trick, I purchased a set of stairs he could use to go up and down as he pleased. He did not know what to make of them at first since he had always placed his front paws on the bed awaiting my assistance. But he soon learned to accept the new tool and now he does not stumble.

God knows our needs long before we do. Knowing this can reduce our fears and worries.

Today, let me be satisfied with the gifts of life and breath.

“We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in him.”  I John 4:16a  NLT

How does one earn a dog’s trust? The first word that comes to my mind is consistency: consistent care, consistent attention, consistent instruction and expectations. If the rules change, the dog can become suspicious or afraid.

When Famous was a puppy, he had to learn there would be times when he would be alone. I was fortunate in that he was able to accompany me to work for his first two years. Still, there were times when I could not keep him with me or leave him unattended in the car. I had to show him that I would return if I stepped out of site into the next room. Then he learned I could reappear if a door closed between us. Gradually he understood that I could go outside and quickly return. And soon he become used to the concept of me driving away for hours at a time, knowing I would eventually return.

God will never leave us alone or abandoned. He is consistent in his presence, his expectations, and his love. We can place our trust in him and know He will forever be the same.

Remind me today, God, that although the world around me will constantly change, You are my steadfast Rock.

“Then the Lord told Abram, ‘Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you…I will bless you and make you famous, and I will make you a blessing to others.'”  Genesis 12:1, 2b  NLT

What I might suggest may sound as absurd as these instructions when they fell on Abram’s heart. Leave all you know, give up all you know, and I will bless you. If we do the same, then we must turn over everything we own, even our pets, to God. The vast majority of us treat our pets as our sole possessions, for our own pleasure or protection. We may spoil them, or show them, but how often do any of us share them?

To see Famous as a gift from my heavenly Father instantly transforms him into a creature created for his purposes. And isn’t that how we should all act–as God’s gifts to each other? I have been blessed with a well-tempered dog that responds well to other people and who can brighten their day. He becomes a blessing when he reminds anyone of gentleness, humility, or the simple pleasure of his presence. I pray he is “famous” not because of the love I bestow upon him, but because he reminds me and others how much God loves us all.

God, guide my steps today in faithful obedience so that not only will I be blessed, but so You can bless others through me.

“I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my permanent promise to you and to all the earth.”  Genesis 9:13  NLT

I put off owning a dog for many years in my adult life. As much as I remembered the companionship and fun of having a dog when I was growing up, I also remembered the responsibility involved in caring for a pet, much which was shared with my parents when I was younger. I remember thinking it was not so much the inconvenience of having a dog while juggling one or more jobs but the sadness which would have descended upon me if I were not offering the very best life I could to any animal destined to spend a life with me. I also found that Famous, like most dogs, likes having a routine. So even before I brought him home, I began shaping my life, my home, my vehicle, to one which would most readily accommodate him. One year turned into two and has now passed into nearly eight years of finding our rhythm, our routine expectations with which we have become comfortable.

As I have taken a vow of sorts to always provide for and protect him, so has God promised to never abandon us. Genesis offers the explanation of God’s rainbow as a promise to all people.

Father, help me today to remember your promise to sustain me. 

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”  John 15:5  NLT

When Famous would go to show competitions, it was only after weeks of preparation. Both of us were novices, but to his credit he was an eager learner. My goal was to allow him to feel as comfortable as possible while following the directions I needed to give to him. We were a team, and we needed each other in order to perform well. We were learning how to respond and react together.

Once you begin to see how people work with dogs, whether they are dogs for the blind or disabled, military or police dogs, therapy pets or companions, you can understand the fruits of a mutual relationship. In much the same way, God wants us to perform at our best, to come the closest we can to be the perfect creations He intended for us to be. But this can only happen if we are intentionally striving to be in his presence.

Father, teach me to walk with You in paths of service and to allow You to transform me into Your creation, not my own.

“For the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God.”  John 16:27  NLT

Since today is the extra day in our leap year, I will invite us to take a leap of faith. I have read of people suspicious of their pets being angels in disguise, as if they were either God’s messengers or his spies sent to watch over them. Even though they could never prove such a thing, I like the perspective of believing Famous is in my life because God ordained such a partnership.

Obviously, his life is affected by the decisions I make: where I live, how active we are, the brand of dog food I choose. But, in a way, I find him to be God’s messenger reminding me that the decisions on how I choose to live life will impact my future and the future of people around me. Because I have to plan my day knowing it will impact him (for example, if I choose to attend a ballgame and leave him at home), it enables me to readily see how my life touches so many others and not just me alone. It quickly reduces the value of the argument that I just want to do it.

Maybe Famous is an angel in the way that he helps watch over my life. God loves us for loving Jesus and believing He was sent from God. I believe God also loves me for recognizing how this wonderful creature helps me to commit my energy and spirit in daily devotion.

Help me today, God, to see You in the world and to choose to live according to Your will. 

 

“God has sent me here to keep you and your families alive so that you will become a great nation.”  Genesis 45:7  NLT

The story of Joseph in the Book of Genesis is a wonderful example of how God works in our lives despite our shortcomings. In selling Joseph into slavery, his brothers could never have imagined this to be part of God’s plan of salvation for their family. Years later, when they would surely have died of starvation from years of devastating famine, Joseph is there to rescue them.

We seek to understand the human drama being played out around us in life today. When we find confusing signals or experience hardships, we want explanations. We tend to have very little patience when God has not made his purposes clear to us.

If, on the other hand, we look for God’s work around us, we can accept the unfolding of history as purposeful and a witness to his love. My dog, Famous, inspires me to see life through his eyes. This in turn helps me to see a broader picture which God is creating.

Father, forgive me when I doubt your ways.

“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.”  Jeremiah 31:3  NLT

There are many reasons why we love our pets and why a bond is likely to form between dog and master. Perhaps it is the face and recognition in their eyes that makes us smile. Perhaps it is the touch of silky hair or warm body. Perhaps it is just the ability of a pet to allow us to be close and share our presence. Whatever the reason, it seems quite natural in many cases for an unconditional love to develop.

I often tell Famous I love him. I say it not because he does what I ask or because he inherited great genes, but because I love him for just being with me. God promises an everlasting, unwavering love to anyone who will accept it. To me this is a very natural thing and anything that denies or inhibits that love is unnatural. God’s love for us invites us to be in his presence for all eternity. And when I whisper “I love you” to Famous, I know God is whispering the same to me.

I delight in the love of God which He bestows upon me.

“I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20  NLT

Independence is often seen as a virtuous quality. So the concept of allowing anyone else to take over our lives can at first seem very difficult. Here the apostle Paul is not speaking of a cruel god forcing us into slavery, but a trust which frees us from the legal law of religion. We are no longer God’s servants, but He has made us his sons and daughters.

When I decided to become a pet owner and bring Famous into my life, I had to choose to give up a certain amount of flexibility. I was no longer able to stay late at work or take spontaneous vacations. I could therefore begin to see myself as a slave to this animal and resent the inconvenience. Instead, he has freed me from loneliness and doubt, from fear and depression, and from hurt and want. In the same way I am committed to Famous and receive the blessings of our relationship, so my faith and trust in the Son of God sets me free in the awareness of his love.

Jesus, I surrender my heart to You. Help me to further trust your leading.