Another Lesson from my Dog

I learned yet another lesson from my little dog this morning.  Since she was a puppy, she has greeted every day with unrestrained exuberance.  Upon waking and realizing that she is in close proximity to me, she has always burst into a flurry of tail wagging activity...rolling on her back, digging a hole in my sheets (her rat terrier heritage) dragging her belly on the floor because it feels so good to stretch.  The more I interact with her, the more animated she gets.  To her, the world is perfect because she is with the one  who meets her every need.  And then she stops and gazes at me.  Her poignant stare speaks volumes..."it's time for breakfast.   Please feed me."  And so I do.

It is said that dogs live in the moment, grateful for what they have today, not a worry about tomorrow, nor sorrow over the past.  I believe this to be true.  With her eyes fixed only on the moment, she is free to enjoy what is....and happy simply to be in my presence.  

"This is the day that The Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."  Clearly my dog has this down to a science.  As I am  writing this,  she is contentedly sleeping in my lap...under my iPad and serving as a warm furry laptop desk.  She is secure in the knowledge that she is being cared for, a perfect example of  how I should trust God.  Oh that I should ever be so good at enjoying the moment, free of  guilt and encumbrances of the past because I am forgiven...fearless about the future because my needs are being met and always will be, by the only One who can...and best of all, happy to simply be in His presence.  

Context and Perspective....only God knows the whol story...

I was thinking about the fact that Jesus, when addressing broken sinners had, and still has, one advantage that we, the modern church, do  not.  Perspective. He knew every person's heart, their story, their pain and suffering.  He knew all about the woman who the people were about to stone for adultery...her circumstances, her pain,  her life. 

 When He spoke to the prostitute at the well, He knew she had had many husbands and told her so before she could even confess.   Only God knows a persons heart, his story, his pain, which is why we are not to judge, only to love and through that love to build relationships.  God uses relationships to restore people when necessary.  He really doesn't need our help...we are told to preach the Gospel and to love God and our neighbors.  If He needed our criticisms and judgements to get the job done, then He wouldn't really be a very powerful God.

Jesus was never hard on the broken people.  His harshest words were saved for the religious Pharisees.  This I believe was because the Pharisees based all of their judgements upon strict interpretation of the law....which would be fine provided they had been able to keep the law themselves and to teach others how.  As it was, however, they used their positions to gain power and respect and heaped laws upon others that they themselves had no intention to follow.  In effect, they did not know the people whom they pointed their collective fingers of judgement at.  They knew only the law.  

I submit that the same is true in the the modern church to some degree or another, particularly where it applies to homosexuality.  The church seems fixated on the activity of the gay community, yet seldom mentions that a large percentage of its own congregation views porn, is divorced, commits adultery,  cheats on tax returns, gossips...etc.  I myself dare not even look at a stone, let alone pick one up.  

Lets face it, what comes out of the pulpit eventually ends up out in the community.  The question is, does it help or hurt?  Since MOST people do not know a gay person, pastors included, they simply lack the understanding necessary to show love or compassion.  This is a problem because 1 Corinthians 13:1 states:

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. "

Without the love and compassion necessary to foster good relationships with the gay community, are we possibly just sounding like a cacophony of clashing cymbals?   How many times do we get in God's way with thought less comments? Worse yet, hateful ones?

It always boils down to relationships.  The reason we need Jesus in the first place is  because no one can possibly follow the Ten Commandments on his own.  Prior to Jesus' death on the cross, there was no relationship between God and Man, outside of ritual sacrifice.  But when Jesus died, He became the final sacrifice, establishing the ability to approach God once and for all.  It is when we develop this relationship with Jesus,  that we are adopted as sons of God and welcomed into the fold.  And there it is again...RELATIONSHIP.  

Our relationship with Jesus, His relationship with God.  That's how it works.  I am able to love because He first loved me.  

When I realize just how much I do not deserve God's love but receive it by grace because of Christ, I am finally released to love others.  Of the woman who poured perfume on His feet, Jesus said in Luke 7:47

"Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

It is when we truly realize just how much we have been forgiven that we are able to truly love others as Jesus commands us to.  The Pharisees just didn't think they were all that bad.  This allowed them to point the finger at others.  

Are any of us guilty of that behavior today?  If we find that we love some people and not others, then the answer would be yes.  

Mutt Dialing

Last night I noticed a red lump on Lacy that is in a very bad place,  for if it turns out to be another mast cell tumor, it will be inoperable.  Admittedly, it could be a harmless cyst or flea bite, however, with her history, any skin lesion is reason for concern.  Try as I might not to worry, this morning I felt so distraught. The thought of losing my constant little companion at a time when my own health is in crisis is just unimaginable.  So...I cried out to God  to PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE somehow make me feel better and help me regain my sense of peace and my trust in Him. 

 I kid you not.....I heard a tiny little voice saying "hello, hello, hello".  The voice was coming from Luke, who had just rolled over and grunted in his usual fashion.  Upon closer inspection, however, I discovered that my cell phone had fallen off my night stand and somehow when Luke had rolled over onto it he had dialed my friend Dianne!  I picked it up and said "Dianne, is that you?  I think my  dog just called you!  I can't believe it, I really need to talk to someone  right  now!"

How on earth the weight of Luke's body could possibly have not only accessed my contact list, but also to have placed the call is beyond me....but then, it's not beyond God!  

Of course, as usual I enjoyed my talk with Dianne.  She listened, and as a pet lover also could relate to my distress.  The realization, however, that God had intervened at the exact moment in time when I had cried out to Him, will last forever!  Only a fool would believe that was a coincidence.  And now I am once again filled with that sense of "peace that passes all understanding" because I know my Savior will intervene on my behalf, even when the inevitable time when my little dog and I am to be separated finally comes.  That knowledge sustains me in spite of the ups and downs of my circumstances.  When God says "draw near to me and I will draw near to you" He really means it.  

So needless to say I now feel much better, and will always remember the day when God intervened with........"Mutt dialing"  LOL!!!!!!!!

Canine Role Models

I truly believe God created dogs as a gift to mankind. One can speculate as to where they came from or how they evolved, but one thing has become clear to me.  A  dog's interaction with his master is the epitome of how I should behave toward God.  

Watching my dog Lacy, curled up in my chair, half asleep, I realize that every place I move in the room, her gaze follows me.  If I am washing dishes, I turn to around, she is looking at me.  If I am sitting at my sewing table,  vacuuming, or folding laundry, her eyes are fixed on me.  If I leave the house for even a short time,  I am greeted with the highest level of exuberance she can muster.  

When I ask her if she is hungry, she licks her lips and begins to dance around, so appreciative of the fact that I am about to provide for her.  Nothing in her nature suggests that she believes she deserves it or is at all capable of providing for herself....only that she is grateful that I do take care of her.  

When I speak she listens.  Her ears perk up and her whole body wiggles in anticipation as if to say " where are we going, what do you want me to do, let's go play, I am so happy, I love you so much!"  

It is amazing that every positive emotion a dog possesses is displayed in body language whenever his master speaks kindly.  Or....when rebuked.  Lacy is quick to repent after an infraction.  Without excuse or justification, she rolls on her back and begs for mercy on the rare occasion that I need to provide correction.  Her whole body says " I am sorry, I won't do it again."  And usually she doesn't.  Oh that I should be able to make that claim about my own mistakes. 

There have been numerous reports of dogs giving their lives to save their masters.  I believe most dogs would given the proper circumstances.  Would I be willing to give up my life for my Master?  I would like to think so, but I believe I fall woefully short.  My eyes are not constantly fixed on Him.  All too often they are fixed upon myself.    I frequently forget to thank Him for my food, perhaps because of a false belief that I somehow deserve it or have provided for myself. 

 When I complain about my circumstances,  I am not being thankful. Dogs never complain.  A stroll down the aisle of any animal shelter proves that.  For the most part, instead of depressed, whining animals, you see excitement at the arrival of company and the prospect of adoption.  

When my Master speaks,  even if I  recognize His voice, I do not always listen.  Sometimes I think I have a better plan.  I forget to invite Him to be a part of my life, ask Him what we are going to do today,  tell Him how happy I am and worst of all.....I forget to tell Him how much I love Him.  

When my Master corrects me, I often have excuses, so many that it may take painful consequences and dire circumstances before I begin to admit my mistakes.  

Oh that I should treat my Master Jesus the way my little dog treats me.  His joy would certainly be multiplied by the millions over how I feel when my little pooch greets me!   I try to remember every day to thank Him for the precious gift He has given me in my little canine friend, not just for the physical and emotional comfort she provides, but as the role model she has become for me...teaching me to be grateful and loving to the One who created us both.