Today I'd like to introduce you to one of my dogs, Maxwell. You may wonder why I decided to write about my dogs, but I do have a purpose. The Lord has used this wonderful creature to teach me much about His love.

Romans 15:13 says: May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.

Then in Ephesians 3:18 it says: That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it];

And Ephesians 3:19: [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!         

These verses needed to become a reality in my life and heart. God wanted to teach me the through experience, the depth of His love. And He decided to use my dog!

                Most of us get a dog because we want to. But in reality they can be a lot of extra work and expense. Their food, the vet bills, flea and tick medicines, among other costs.  They need bathed, brushed, their nails clipped, and we need to take the time and patience to train them and to walk them. They make messes, dog hair seems to be everywhere, occasionally they get in the garbage, they beg, and we have to clean up their "duty" outside, and sometimes they refuse to listen to us when we call to them. They bark at people, and are stubborn. So why do want them?

                So how does that list compare to our relationship with our Heavenly Father? The Lord had shown to me that we need many of the same things from Him that our dogs need from us. He also showed me that many of the undesirable things that our dogs do are reminiscent to the undesirable things we do.

So why does God love us? Because He takes pleasure in us! Think about that for a moment; can we really do anything for God? Can we really give back to Him anything that He cannot already do for Himself? We are messy, dirty, and needy creatures. We need Him to provide our needs. So again we come to the question, why do we care for our dogs? Because they give us pleasure. And our Heavenly Father takes pleasure in us. He loves us not for what we can do for Him, but because He Is Love and He loves us!

Luke 12:32, says: Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom!

Ephesians 1:9, tells us: Making known to us the mystery (secret) of His will (of His plan, of His purpose). [And it is this:] In accordance with His good pleasure (His merciful intention) which He had previously purposed and set forth in Him,

Philippians 2:13: [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.

So remember God can use anything to teach us about His immense love for us. And He wants us to experience His love and He takes pleasure in us!