Just Another Dog Devotion

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.  And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"  So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. Continue reading "Member of the Family"

The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.  Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.  Psalm 95:5-6 NIV

 

We walked several miles down the boardwalk today.  It was a beautiful, sunny day and we weren’t the only ones enjoying the peaceful ocean.  There were runners, bikers, couples and lots of dogs.  Some of the dogs were soaking wet after having a romp in the waves.  Others were walking along sniffing and greeting everyone they met.  One particular husky seemed much more interested in the pigeons than his surroundings.

How often are we like that husky, going through life concentrating on one thing and missing all the beauty around us?  People were admiring him but he couldn’t bask in the glow.  The waves were roaring and the sun was glittering off their white caps, but the doggie only saw birds trying to get dinner.  He didn’t savor the journey and the many  blessings of the day as he wanted those pigeons for his dinner.

Often we can only focus on one thing and it is not always the ONE thing that we should be concentrating on at the moment. This world is not our home but God made all of creation for our enjoyment.  We are to take care of it and realize it is God’s blessing.  Genesis 1:31a states, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good”.  Not just good but very good.

Today as you go about your daily tasks, look around you.  God’s creation is beautiful from the snow-capped mountains to the never-ending oceans flowing back and forth.  As the old hymn says, “This is my Father’s World”.  Stop and enjoy it today.

 

 

 

Greater love has hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.  John 15:13 ASV Continue reading “LOVE”

Two in a bed warm each other.  Alone, you shiver all night.  By yourself you’re unprotected.  With a friend you can face the worst.  Can you round up a third?  A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.  Ecclesiastes 4: 11-12 THE MESSAGE  Continue reading “ACCOUNTABILITY”

Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he who will sustain you.  I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and rescue you.  Isaiah 46:4 NIV Continue reading “SWAYING STEPS”

I first heard the term cuddle dud in Fairbanks, Alaska.  The musher was introducing her Alaskan sled dogs and someone had asked if they were affectionate.  She lifted one of the dogs in her arms and explained that this pup was a cuddle dog.  She occasionally raced but mostly just cuddled.

She affectionately referred to the dog as a cuddle dud.  The dog had been raised to race but wanted to cuddle.  I can’t figure out if that is a bad or a good thing.

Have we been trained for a purpose that we have fulfilled?  Do we just want to cuddle and curl up at Jesus’ feet like Mary did in the story of Mary and Martha?  In Luke 10 when Martha is upset because Mary is sitting with Jesus and not helping her with dinner preparations, Jesus tells her not to worry.  He says, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed-or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens”.    There are many days when we will be racing along in life, doing and being all God made us to be.  Other days, we will climb up in the Father’s lap to recharge our batteries and cuddle.

There is a season to race and a season to cuddle. Both are wonderful in their appointed time but if we are curling up at Jesus’ feet, we won’t ever be a cuddle dud.

 

 

For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.  II Chronicles 16:9a NASB

Isn’t it wonderful to come home after a long, hard day at work to be greeted by your dog?  They look at you with unconditional love in their big, puppy dog eyes.  They want nothing more than to be with you.  Your dog is entirely focused on you.

God is searching for you, too.  Everyday he looks for you to spend time with him.  He’s looking to see if your heart is entirely focused on Him.

Does your heart belong to Jesus?  Is it completely His?  It’s so hard to be completely focused on anything today with all the distractions in our lives.

Let’s look at our dogs and take a lesson from them.  Look forward to seeing your Lord and be content to spend time alone with Him.  Stare into His eyes and give Him your full attention.  He loves you and is longing to strongly support you when you give Him your  whole heart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.  Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.  John 21:24-25 NIV

We just returned from our family vacation.  We went to a resort about ninety minutes southwest of Chicago.  It was a pet friendly resort so we took Danni along for her first family trip.

I had researched pet care and had everything set up for Danni to be walked several times while we went sightseeing in Chicago.  Suddenly, the dog walker stopped responding and I found myself in Illinois with no pet care.

On Sunday morning at 6:30 AM, I contacted someone I found listed on the internet who advertised pet care.  He answered the phone sleepily and agreed to take care of Danni.  He came several times during the week and gave Danni excellent care.  She was taken for long walks and we had no worries about our baby.

After we got home, our dog walker asked us to write reviews about his services on several websites.  We agreed as we had seen firsthand his excellence.  We were witnesses of his work and were glad to pass it on to others.

The disciples were firsthand witnesses of all Jesus did and preached.  They were more than willing to pass it on to us as they knew Jesus’ excellence and care.  Reviews of all that Jesus said and did fill the pages of the Bible.  All the world can read and believe because of other’s trustworthy reviews.

We all want good care for our loved ones.  Whether it’s pet care or the perfect Nursing Home for a parent, we depend on other’s experiences.  We trust their opinion because they’ve experienced it firsthand.

Point others to the reviews of Jesus in the Bible so that they also might believe.  Share your own review.  Make it personal so others might experience Jesus for themselves through your five star ratings.