I have a back window of my computer room that looks out onto a community park. I often see people out walking their dogs and usually the same people every morning. It is part of their daily routine. I often wonder what it would be like to have a dog, but then I think about getting up really early every morning to walk the dog. Then my mind gets a dose of the morning blues.

But then the dog would love me and lick my face and jump all over me after getting home after a while. He would be eager to see me and would wonder what kind of treat He would get or how many balls he would chase after.

They say a dog is man's best friend. But then what about Jesus? Jesus should be a man's and woman's best friend. Now some people may like a dog better because they can see a dog and touch a dog and feel its tongue on their face when he is happy to see them.

But Jesus can bless us and make our lives better. He can give us insight and make us think when we need to by dropping subtle hints along the path of life. He can carry us across the sands of time and we can spend an eternity with Him.

This is not to say that the dog is not a good friend. He is. But we as humans quite often need more than a dog can provide. We need to feel really loved from someone that does not expect a lot in return.

But then thinking that way can be rather self-serving and selfish. Like the dog who expects to get some kind of reward, like a treat or a scratch behind the ear, we can expect to be given the love that Jesus gives to all.

When we expect Gods love though, we do so by faith. Since we can not see God, we can only be a witness to the wonders that He bestows on those who choose to believe and have faith.

Hebrew 11:1 What is faith ? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead. TLB

I am sure you have probably heard this Bible verse used again and again. That is because it has a lot of meaning, whether we are willing to admit it to ourselves or not. We cannot not see Jesus, but if we have faith, we know that He is there for us, ready to give us a helping hand when we need it.

We can choose to drive down a road in the middle of the night wishing that sleep had not eluded us, or we could have decided to pray for God's assistance. Sometimes it is so easy to look for help in other ways. A lot addictions such as drugs, alcohol and other addictions are ways people mask their true feelings and they do not want to admit the power of Jesus Christ in their lives.

We can choose to ignore Him by getting ourselves so ensconced in the rat race of life. That is what a lot of people have done. They have chosen to block out their own desires and wants even though that is not what they set out to do. Getting caught up in life does not mean we can not take a time-out each day to enjoy a relationship with God.

But yet we do it every day. We live for the moment rather than making a conscious decision and effort to make our lives in the only way that really makes any sense and that is to spend time with God.

Christianity is probably the biggest religion in the world. Doesn't that mean anything? I mean if so many hundreds of millions of people believe in Christ, that in itself is a reason to believe and have faith that God can move mountains and that He can bless in many ways we have not even thought of yet.

But still there are those that do not believe. They have closed themselves off from the gifts that a relationship with Jesus Christ can give them. They have hardened their hearts, like many verses of the Bible talk about repeatedly.

Zechariah 7:12 They hardened their hearts like flint, afraid to hear the words that God, the Lord Almighty, commanded them-the laws he had revealed to them by his Spirit through the early prophets. That is why such great wrath came down on them from God. TLB

That is a testament to the ignorance of the human species. We can choose to close out what seems to be the most logical or denounce it in favor of something we can see, even though our eyes deceive us on a repeated basis.

A lot of people say they become police officers or politicians because they want to make a difference. But yet you do not need to be in these kinds of professions to make a difference. You can make a difference by taking the blessings that God has given you and share them with others. If you can make a difference in even one other persons life that is an accomplishment in and of itself.

So instead of making a decision to ignore the power Of Jesus Christ in favor of getting a higher position in life, think about what even one blessing from God can give you. Now just think of all the other blessings you can receive through a lasting relationship with God. Maybe a higher position isn't what it is cracked up to be. But then a lasting relationship with God could give you an even higher position. One where your life has been blessed and is fruitful. And with Him you will go even further than you ever dreamed possible.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to realize that a lasting relationship with you will be rewarding. Help guide me in the coming week to think on this and make it a part of my daily routine. Then the Mondays that come will be ones of looking forward to the week ahead instead dreading it. Thank you for your love Lord, and all your many blessings. Amen.

Benediction: Now, Lord, Bless us in our daily lives. Help us to smell the roses whenever possible, to shine our light on those less fortunate than us, and lead us in the path we should go. For you are the light that keeps our path well lit. Help us to follow it, until we meet you, in a land where milk and honey abound, a place where our most wonderful dreams are fulfilled. Amen.

Hi, my name is Bryan, a messenger of hope who would love to hear from you. God Bless.

© 2005 Bryan Hill