No Sweat

Dogs are funny animals.  They do a lot of things that seem a little silly to me.  Panting is one of those things that I did not understand for a long time.  But, I learned something about dogs.  Unlike me, they really don't have the ability to sweat.  I can sweat just sitting in a chair doing nothing.  Dogs are different.  While dogs do have sweat glands on their feet, they do not have them on the rest of their body. They rely on panting, a method of breathing out excess heat, to cool down their bodies.  It is necessary for their survival.

Whenever I am in hot situations (literally or figuratively), I often sweat it out.  I get drenched.  Even when wearing an undershirt, my sweat stains can soak through.  Yeah, I know, it is not a pretty mental picture, is it?

So, what do I do?  I think I can take a lesson from my dogs and also from deer.  Consider what the psalmist says:

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.  Psalm 42:1

Instead of sweating it out, I can find relief in God.  Jesus said that He is the Living Water.  If I will pant after Him, instead of worrying and sweating over my calamity, I can find my soul can find rest.  No sweat.

Shake It Off

When something gets on my dogs (water, bugs, etc.), they will often shake in order to get it off.  It is funny to watch a dog shake.  It generally starts with their head, moves to their midsection, and ends with their tail.  Dozsar was shaking off something when I snapped this picture.

Wings

I know.  This is not a picture of a dog.  So, I guess this post can be called "Feathery Words" or something like that.  But, my dogs are mentioned in the story so that is how I will justify this post on "Pawsitive Words."

I took this picture just about a year ago.  We have since moved from this location.  But, I posted the following story on another blog.  Due to the timing, and the events of today, I thought I would re-post it here.  My daughter is getting married today.  In a few hours, I will give her away.  No matter how much you hear, read, or plan, nothing prepares a dad for this day.  It is bittersweet and hard to process.  Nevertheless, it is a part of life and it is necessary for our children to eventually leave the nest.  We just pray that we have done our part and trust their destiny to God.  This time, she is ready to fly. 

Here is the story:

Education

I love it when I say something to my dogs and, although they do not understand, they try hard to figure out what I want.  It usually involves a tilt of their head, the raising of their ears, and their complete, undivided attention.

I have discovered that if I want to train my dogs, I need to involve them.  I, of course, give verbal commands.  I have have to tell them what I want.  But, that is not enough.  They have no idea what the words mean.  So, I also have to show them what I want.  When I combine the verbal command with an associated action, it is easier for them to make the connection.  It often takes a lot of repetition.  However, the best way is to combine all these things and involve the dog.  If I want him to sit, I give the command, gently push his back end down until he sits, and then praise him when he does it.  Doing all these things, and doing it often, will teach the dog to do what I command.  And, I have discovered, that my dogs really desire to be obedient.  They want to do what I command, but they need to be taught.

The same is true with our children.  I feel like I am always telling my kids what to do.  Do this.  Do that.  Don't do this.  Don't do that.  When they forget, I get upset.  Didn't I tell them what I wanted?  Yes, but they forgot.  So, what should I do?  I should teach them, I should involve them.  This is true in life and in the church.

We sometimes think kids are too young to participate in church.  We tell them about the Lord.  We tell them how they should live their lives.  Unfortunately, I am not sure we really teach them.  I am not sure we really involve them.  I wonder if that is why we see a great falling away of our children when they are old enough to make their own decisions.  We allow our kids to play during church.  We allow them to be entertained by other things.  I know the attention span at different ages (and different kids) varies.  But, I still think we can do a better job.  I have heard our pastor say that kids are the church tomorrow, but they are also the church today.

If we really mean it, let's tell them, teach them, and involve them - today!

And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.  ~Deuteronomy 11:19

Deeper

My dogs love to dig.  It seems to go in phases, but I can routinely go out in my backyard and find places where they have dug.  If I am not careful, it is easy to twist my ankle in one of the holes!  I do not know why they dig, but there is obviously something below the surface that has captivated their attention and desire to find it.  What is on the surface is not good enough.  They want to go deeper.  My yard is proof of this.

I find myself desiring the same things, particularly in my relationship with Christ.  I have a desire to go deeper.  I have a desire to know Him more.  This is a good thing.  It is a great thing.  But, as I really examine myself, I realize not only do I need to go deeper in Him but I need to allow Him to go deeper in me.

Our theme at Youth Camp last year was "Going Deep."  I had the opportunity to preach one night at camp.  I took the theme and added a twist.  We can go deep all we want.  But, if we do not yield ourselves to the Lord and give Him access to the deepest parts of our heart, we are gaining little.  While this post is a bit longer than most, I thought it was important enough to post my notes on this topic.  Here it is.

Love

One thing I have noticed about our dogs is that they seem to love unconditionally.  I can be gone 5 minutes or 5 weeks.  Either way, when I return, they are happy to see me.  Even though we have been separated, they still love me and do not forget about me.  When they see me, they will jump on me, wag their tail, and sometimes will even bark.  Believe me, I don't get that kind of response from people - which, as I think about it, might be a good thing.  Dozsar even likes to get up in my face and nibble my nose.  I do not understand it, but it is his way of showing his affection.

I recently studied the first and second chapters of 1 Thessalonians.  In all of Paul's writings, his love for the church is evident.  Consider what Paul said:

But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.  ~ 1 Thessalonians 2:17

Even though Paul could not physically be with them, he held them close in his heart.  And, he fervently worked and made plans to see them just as soon as it was practical and possible.  His love was not mere sentiment or often repeated words.  No, his love was manifested by his oft-repeated deeds.

Love is action.  It is shown.  It endures.  Even when separated by time and space, love endures.  Paul demonstrated it.  My dogs understand it.  When will I learn?

Thirsty

It was nearly 100 degrees the other day.  Dozsar, my vizsla, was thirsty.  As soon as I placed the bowl of water in front of him, he immediately lapped it up.  He did it so quickly, the water he so fervently craved poured from his mouth in a mixed stream of water and doggy drool.  He, of course, had to come over and give me a wet, sloppy kiss right afterward.  But, that is another story.

Dozsar had a craving - a thirst - that only water could satisfy.  It is a basic need of animals and humans.  The problem is, once that thirst is satisfied, it will eventually come back.  The constant need for water is crucial to survival.

The same is true in the spiritual realm.  We have different cravings.  We have all kinds of thirst.  Unfortunately, we try to satisfy them with the things of the world.  While it seems refreshing and satisfies for a while, the thirst comes back.  There is a longing, but nothing ever seems to completely satisfy.  Yet, we continue in our quest to quench that desperate longing in our hearts.

Jesus told the woman at the well (John 4) that He could give her water that would completely satisfy - she would never thirst again.  After revealing things about her that a complete stranger could not have known, she perceived that there was something different about Jesus.  Her spiritual thirst was quenched by Him and so she immediately went to tell others.  As soon as they heard, other people were intrigued and had to come to hear Jesus for themselves.

That tells me something.  While we can share all that Jesus has done for us, our experience with the Lord can not satisfy the thirst of others.  They must come and drink themselves.  As much as we want, we can not make decisions for our friends, family, and coworkers.  We can (and must) share our experiences, but they must drink for themselves.  Until they do, they will continue to have a longing that they will try to fill with the things of this world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.  But, those who hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled.

What are you drooling for?

Blessed are they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.  ~Matthew 5:6

Reality

I snapped this picture of Oscar the other day.  His eyes were closed.  I was reminded of our kids growing up.  Sometimes, they would close their eyes and think that we couldn't see them because their eyes were closed.  If they couldn't see, we couldn't either, I guess.  I suppose that makes sense to children.  But, as adults, we laugh and think it is cute.

However, I think we sometimes do the same thing.  We want to close our eyes to the reality around us.  We think if we ignore them, life's problems, challenges, and games will just disappear.  We open our eyes and realize life is still right there staring us in the face.  I have been guilty of this.

The trick is learning to see with more than just our eyes.  What we need is to ask the Lord to open the eyes of our heart so we can go beyond what we see.  We walk by faith, not by sight, but we can not be oblivious to the reality around us.

King David closed his eyes to reality.  He tried to live in a fantasy world that involved his sin.  He literally destroyed lives in process, including the child that was conceived in his sin.  When the Prophet Nathan confronted David, he finally opened his eyes.  But, the damage was done.  Sin, while it can be forgiven, comes with consequences.  Therefore, we need to walk through this life with our eyes wide open - naturally and spiritually.

Read Psalm 51.  David opened both his natural and spiritual eyes and saw his sin.  He truly repented before God.  God forgave him, but he still had to live with the destruction he caused in the lives of others.  Tragic, but that is real life.  Open your eyes, before it is too late.  God's eyes are open.  He sees (see verse 4).  If it is too late, follow the example of David.  After all, he was a man after God's own heart.

 1 Have ^amercy upon me, O God, according to thy ^blovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies ^cblot out my ^dtransgressions.

 2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and ^acleanse me from my sin.

 3 For I ^aacknowledge my transgressions: and my ^bsin is ever before me.

 4 Against thee, thee only, have I ^asinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be ^bjustified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

 5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother ^aconceive me.

 6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

 7 Purge me with ^ahyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

 9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

 10 Create in me a ^aclean heart, O God; and ^brenew a right spirit within me.

 11 Cast me not away from thy ^apresence; and take not thy ^bholy spirit from me.

 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be ^aconverted unto thee.

 14 ^aDeliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

 15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

 16 For thou desirest not ^asacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

 17 The ^asacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a ^bcontrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

 18 Do good in thy good ^apleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

 19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.