God and Dogs Are Best Friends!

God and Dogs Are Best Friends!
I know you dog/cat lovers LOVE the title of my post today! So this post is FOR YOU -- AND those of us who accept and support our animal-loving friends.

Yesterday (Saturday), I headed out for my morning run and I noticed so many dog walkers out. I'm sure not having go to work AND the 60+ degree temperature drew them out of their homes. My inspiration for today's post came from those people who are so devoted and in love with their pets. Yes, I've noticed those of you who have accepted the 5 days of Dogs of Facebook Challenge, and I've loved those pics!

We had dogs and cats in our home as our children grew up. We even raised Persian Angora cats. The last dog was Desire (Desi), a precious Cocker Spaniel, that was Staci's dog who went with her when she married Larry. After that, we were DONE! It was the final "baby" in our home.

When Ryan and Staci were elementary school ages, we owned a ranch with 75 head of cattle, a roping horse, a white German Shepherd (that was our ranch's protector), and that adorable cat and her kittens. We always encouraged our kids to have pets. Our place was most certainly "pet-friendly". By encouraging our kids to be a caretaker of pets, we taught them the meaning of responsibility, consistency and even love.

So, I was thinking, what would God answer if I posed the question, "Do YOU love dogs?" My little research revealed that dogs are the only animals in Exodus 11:7 that receive a reward for their actions. When the Jewish slaves fled Egypt, it states "not one dog barked". As a reward for that, God said in Exodus 22:31, "…and flesh torn in the field you shall not eat; you shall throw it to the dogs." Literally, lucky....er....blessed dogs!

The fact is the Bible seems to suggest that God made animals for not just food, but for companionship and relationship with humans. Anyone that has a beloved pet, will assure us of that.

And, with the vastness of God's creative genius, I would suggest that His sheer diversity and beauty of animals leads us to appreciate Him even more, which causes us to proclaim, "How great is Your work, O Lord" (Psalm 92:5).

In the beginning......(Genesis 2:19) God created animals for Adam -- even before Eve. We might say that the Creator has placed us, the descendants of Adam and Eve, in His beautiful garden to be the "caretakers" of God's garden and all the animals, too. We humans are the masterpieces of God's creation and we are the beings created in His image. When we act with compassion and sensitivity, we become more like God. The more like God we become, the more we realize, that He really made us to be caretakers of this world and those in it.

Imagine what message it sends a child when Daddy and Mommy teach that God wants all our animals to be fed before we even feed ourselves. Imagine what message it sends our child when Daddy and Mommy teach that God watches us to see if we are being compassionate to our animals. And imagine what message we leave to our children when we say that to become truly righteous and spiritually fulfilled, we must cultivate a sensitivity towards animals, as it says "A righteous person knows the needs of the animal" Proverbs 12:10!

Maybe that's why God specifically asked Noah to build an ark to save all the animals during the Flood. After all, He could have easily made a miracle where the animals were saved without Noah needing to slave away for 40 days and nights meticulously tending to the care of each animal in the ark. We could also say, the way we treat animals is a reflection of the way we treat people. Repeatedly in the Bible, we hear about a loving Shepherd that cares for His flock.

I'll admit, I don't have the same love for animals that I once did, but after studying God's love for animals, I have assumed a new appreciation for those in my own little world -- in my daughter's home is Buddy, a big, beautiful AND bold Australian Shepherd, Emma, a tiny, adorable, spunky, alpha in dominence to BIG Buddy, and then there are the animals in my son's home -- a white, gentle, and loving Bichon dog, Bentley, and in the stable and pasture is the horse, Boogie, and donkey, Biscuit and 5 goats (who have names, but I don't remember them!). I have the opportunity to resist the love for animals or to embrace God's creatures because, after all, they have breath and if God says "Let EVERYTHING that has breath, praise the Lord...." Psalm 150:6.....so we ALL -- dogs, cats, horses, goats, pigs, birds......every creature should praise Him and love each other....because He Master-planned it that way!

Blondes Really Do Have More Furry Fun

Day 63 of Photo Inspirations -- Blondes Really Do Have Furry Fun
#TBT  I was amused at the comments on my daughter's FB post about her and Emma having the same color of hair.  That reminded me of Staci's Cocker Spaniel (also a blonde), Desi, that she had before she married, then on into her marriage and kids.  This photo shows the all-grown-up, blonde, Desi with her blonde family.

The story of Desi aka Desire is a sweet one.  Staci had been begging for a dog, but because of her busy schedule, her Daddy said, "When you're on your own, you can get a dog, but not while you're still here."  We had had our share of pets:  dogs, cats, cattle and horses as our two kids grew up.  Now, it was NO MORE PETS!

I was Staci's travel companion back then as she would speak and sing at meetings, churches, youth conferences, etc. all over the world.  This time, she was speaking and singing on 100 Huntley Street, a television program in Toronto, Canada.   After the show, Staci went with me to get my hair cut.  The hair stylist, Kelli, wanted to know Staci's story and as she told it, Kelli began to cry.  Then she told her story.  It was a divine appointment as before our eyes, we saw Kelli have life transformation.  To express her gratitude, Kelli wanted to give Staci one of her adorable Cocker Spaniel puppies.  Staci was overjoyed.....BUT "Daddy said "No dogs!"  She called him with the news, and he said, "Give your Mother the phone!"  He said to me, "Donna, you've got to talk some sense into her.  She cannot bring a dog home."  Staci took back the phone and said, "Daddy, I just want you to pray about it."

We were in Toronto a few more days, and it was time to head to Michigan for meetings.  Staci made her last call for mercy to her Daddy.  He answered the phone and said, "I prayed.  And God said to me 'Ron, I am your Father, and if I wouldn't withhold any good thing from you, how could you withhold any good thing from your daughter?" Staci screamed and fell across the bed crying.  I didn't know they were tears of joy, until he shared the news with me. Oh happy day!

Staci named her little puppy Desire -- because God gave her "the desire of her heart" (Psalm 37:4). We brought Desi home with us and to our surprise, her Daddy had balloons and a cake waiting for us, AND a doggie door.  The cake said "Welcome Home, Desi"!  Desi became a member of the family.  She was the sweetest, gentlest God-gift to us.  She was a member of the Wallace family until she passed away five years ago.

But, Alexia's prayers for a little dog were answered when friends gave her Emma.  Emma is such a sweet Yorkie. And, as the story went for Staci -- Emma was the desire of Alexia's heart.

And, I ask you.....What is the desire of your heart, today?  Psalm 37:4 -- "Delight yourself in Him....and He will give YOU the desires of your heart!"