What Were You Created For?

I heard an animal lover say one day that DOG was GOD spelled backward.

While I would never imply that the Creator of the universe and our four-footed furry friends are on equal terms, I understand the heart behind his statement. The man was saying that God endowed our beloved animals with many of His own characteristics: unconditional love, kindness, sensitivity, loyalty, compassion, intelligence, and playfulness, to name a few.

 One of my favorite bumper stickers testifies to a dog's unconditional love. It says "I Hope One Day to Be Half the Man My Dog Thinks I Am."

I was reminded recently of all the reasons I love my dog as I talked with a dear friend. Only ten days ago her beloved Rhodesian Ridgeback, Romeo, was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma. Osteosarcoma is an aggressive form of cancer that usually spreads throughout a dog's body before it presents any external symptoms. Her first cause for concern was a tender, swollen lump on Romeo's leg.

Sent home with an initial diagnosis and instructions to keep him comfortable and pain-free, my friend and her family hoped to have several months with Romeo before the disease claimed his life. Last Wednesday, only ten days later, she and her family bid Romeo a sad farewell.

I had the privilege of knowing Romeo from the time he was a puppy. Reminiscing with my friend over those early days, she told me, "I knew Rhodesian Ridgebacks bond to a whole family, but more than anything, I wanted Romeo to be my dog." To help him bond to her, she would hold him on her lap while she worked at her desk. Needless to say, he was quite content to sit there, curled up into a ball, ready to receive a pat on the head or a kind word.

We chuckled over how effective her bonding strategy was. Before long Romeo was her constant companion as well as her defender and protector. If she sat at her desk, he settled at her feet. If she moved from one room to another, he moved with her. Sometimes he even anticipated her movements, and she would find him ahead of her, blocking her way. If she left the house, he waited for her and met her at the door when she returned. Romeo didn't like men, but Romeo loved his mommy.

We talked about Romeo's last few days. "He was in so much pain, despite double doses of medication," my friend told me. "Every step he took was an effort." Knowing they were going to have to put him down, she and her family spent his last day focused on him. True to form, "every time I moved," she said, "Romeo moved. Even though it was a struggle for him even to stand, if I moved, he moved. Every step was painful, but even more than he wanted to be pain free, he wanted to be with me. He loved me more than he loved himself."

We concluded that Romeo had fulfilled his purpose -- all the way to the end. He was created to be my friend's constant companion, and he fulfilled that destiny despite tremendous cost.

His loyalty and love made me think of my own destiny. You see, just like God created Romeo to bring joy and companionship to my friend and her family, God created me for a purpose too.


Ephesians 1:11-12 describes my destiny. "In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory."

My destiny is to live my life in such a way that I bring glory to God.

Matthew 5:16 tells me how.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Sometimes glorifying God comes at great personal cost. Like Romeo followed my friend everywhere even though it caused him great pain, I, too, must choose to follow Christ even when it's painful. Even when it costs something. Even when I don't know where the path leads. I must ask myself, do I love God more than I love myself?

My calling is to follow the One Who loves me best.

It is my destiny.

ROMEO -- December 5, 2003 - January 25, 2012 

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Who Do YOU Say That I Am?

“He (Jesus) said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’" (Matthew 16:13)

I am a mother who loves to hug my children, but hates to discipline them.

I am a woman who enjoys wearing cute shoes, but hates shopping for them.

I am a wife who enjoys dates with my husband, but hates paying for them.

I am a dental professional who loves keeping teeth healthy, but hates it when my patient loses one.

I am a writer who loves creating a story, but hates to edit it.

I am a friend who loves laughing together, but hates crying together.

I am a neighbor who loves to lend, but hates to borrow.

I am a puppy momma who loves taking Winston on walks, but hates taking him to the vet.

I am a daughter who loves her parents, but hates that they live out of town.

I am a Christian who loves pleasing the Lord and hates failing Him.

One day when Jesus and his disciples were walking, He asked them, "Who do men say that I am?"

Their responses were varied, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

Then He asked them another, more important question, "But who do you say that I am?" 

Peter, known for speaking first and thinking later, got it right the first time.  "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God."

Jesus commended Peter for his answer. "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven."

Jesus asked and Peter answered the most important question that each of us will ever answer.  Not "Who does your mother, father, sister, brother, neighbor, pastor, grandmother, Sunday School teacher, lady-next-door think that I am?" 


But

"Who do you say that I am?"

If you cannot claim with Peter, that He is the Christ (YOUR Savior) then please visit the page to the right that asks "Do You Know God?"  and settle it today.  It will be the best decision you've ever made.  

 

 If you do have a relationship with God, take to heart what Peter admonished the believers in 1Peter 3:15, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;"  Be part of sharing the message of Christ to a lost world that desperately needs to know Him!

 "Blessed are you, ____________! (your name here),"