God made dogs, and they can be a great education. Taking care of a 5-year-old schnoodle [Schnauzer and Poodle mix], has been teaching me a lot. One thing I thought of is worship. The New Testament word is proskuneō, which is related to kunos, meaning dog. It is said that worship is like a dog licking its master’s hand.
Here are a few things I learned on line about dogs licking people’s hands.
Licking is a natural instinct in dogs. It releases endorphins [that make dogs feel calmer and more relaxed] and dopamine [pleasure and motivation]. Dogs can lick people for affection, communication, grooming, exploration, and attention. Mother dogs lick their pups to clean and stimulate them and they learn very early that tongues are useful tools in communicating and interacting with the world around them. Puppies lick to appease older dogs and clear the way for safe social interactions. We do a lot with our hands and they are like a roadmap for dogs that tells the story of our day, and they want to taste and smell every “destination.” The palms of your hands also sweat, leaving a salty residue on your skin that dogs enjoy.
This schnoodle likes to lick our hands. It gives her pleasure. Worshiping our Creator also brings pleasure. And we want to know more about our Father’s business for us. We also want to be “salted” and obey God’s commands. And this schnoodle has learned to listen to Sherry and my voices and respond. That’s because we know better than she does and have a greater ability to think and reason. God’s thoughts are much higher than ours and we should trust Him, not our own limited understanding [Isaiah 55:9; Proverbs 3:5,6].
The dog also just wants to be around us. Even though we don’t let her in bed with us, after a few nights of crying outside our door, we allowed her in. She is content to sit UNDER our bed, just to be near us.
Psalms 84:10:
For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper [outer threshold] in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
And she doesn’t take her eyes off of us. She is always ready to please, and seems to just want to love us.
Psalms 123:2:
Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.
Today, we have access to the Father through Christ. Christ is the vine and we are the branches. We should keep our eyes on what Christ has done for us. We need to look to Jesus in his ascended position as Lord over all, at his Father’s right hand of blessing.
Colossians 3:1:
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
When we go through life’s challenges, we can look to our risen Savior, knowing that he overcame the adversary’s world and even death itself.
Hebrews 12:2:
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Here’s an old hymn that I still love.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace
Let’s keep our eyes and hearts where they are supposed to be. On God’s goodness through our Lord and Savior, His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
Romans 13:14:
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
I’ve learned over the years to listen to my wife. Sherry is what Proverbs 31 calls a virtuous woman, and that includes her being filled with wisdom. After completing a full marathon last year, I was thinking of doing it again. But Sherry recommended I cut back a little. The upside is that I didn’t have to run up to the top of a small mountain and could stay pretty level. Today I enjoyed—really enjoyed—running the Coeur D’Alene Half Marathon. The weather was perfect, the view along the lake was reminiscent of visiting the Sea of Galilee, and there were plenty of wonderful people to meet and encourage along the run.
Just before God graciously helped the children of Israel reach the promised land, he gave Moses amazing truth. This revelation included one of the key areas that we, even today, can grow in–God’s love. We find 16 references to God’s love. Biblically, the number 8 shows a new beginning and the number 2 establishes a thing. Here in Deuteronomy, love [8 x 2] establishes a new beginning for those believers. Let’s look at the 16 places where the English word “love” is used in the King James Version of Deuteronomy to see what we can learn about God’s love then, and how God’s love can help us live His promises today.
Today I learned a great lesson. My posture has been getting worse over the past few years because I allow my head to hang forward. A physical therapist said our heads weight 10 to 14 pounds (the same weight as a bowling ball). For every inch we lean forward, we are putting 10 pounds of pressure on our neck muscles. It’s taking work, but I’m keeping my head centered on my body and am immediately seeing less pain, better breathing, and I’m standing taller. It’s nice to get rid of this literal “pain in the neck.”
I was just sitting and enjoying the gas heater blowing on me, during this cold January morning in northern Idaho. It reminded me of my childhood winters in Missouri and our old oil heater that would keep me warm. In fact, I would leave my bed in those days to sit by a wall vent with my little robe over me as a tent. I also look forward to staying warm in future cold situations. Why? Because God takes care of me.
This title is actually a figure of speech that the French call double entendre, or double meaning. We will look at God’s great love throughout the ages, all time. And we will see how He loves us through His Son Jesus Christ throughout the different ages, or seasons, that we live in this earthly life.
The Gospel of Matthew shows Jesus as the Messiah, the great King. It begins with John the Baptist preparing the way for him, his baptism with holy spirit, his temptation in the wilderness, and then shows him declaring his kingdom in 4:12—7:29. Much of this declaration is in what is called the “Sermon on the Mount.”
The entire Bible is a tapestry of truth that shows the basics of life and also the details of how things work. Man has basic needs: security, sustenance, and enjoyment. God provides all three. But the Devil has tricked people into going to him for the basics. This always leaves the seeker hurt, incomplete, and lifeless.
