Adoration Manifestation
We all adore Jesus in our own way and God accepts all adoration lifted in His name. There are times I get a glimpse of how He must feel when I'm on the receiving end of adoration from my trio of terriers. I'm
not claiming to be God, but in the lives of Cooper, Watson, and Newman, I receive a lot of attention. I am like a god to those four-legged critters. Much like God protects, teaches, guides, nourishes, and loves us...I do the same for my three furry children. In that context I'd like to use my dogs as a parallel of our own "adoration manifestation" toward the one true God.
Cooper
Cooper (on the far right in photo) is our eight-year-old Welsh Terrier and, for a terrier, he has a very low-key approach to life. He is quite cool and confident on the outside and is not a fervent tag wagging pooch, but he is very faithful. When I leave the house he is usually the one who stands at the front door watching me drive away. When I return home (even if I've just been to the street checking the mailbox), Cooper is waiting for me. It does not matter whether I've been gone for one minute or one hour, Cooper is always ready to greet me with his quiet faithfulness.
However, on the occasions when Cooper's tail does go into high gear, it provides our entire family with immeasurable joy because we know that Cooper is experiencing an immeasurable joy in his doggy heart. It's hard not to watch someone's joy and not be affected...it is contagious!
God loves faithful adoration manifestation. He delights in His children who quietly yearn to bask in His presence, just like Cooper does with me. And, if God laughs anything like us, I'm sure he gets a hearty and holy laugh of immeasurable joy when His quiet followers let loose!...just like Cooper.
Watson
Watson (on the far left in the photo) is our fifteen-year-old highway find of unknown lineage. He is the epitome of basic adoration manifestation. He is constantly at my feet. Watson follows me from room to room just to be in my presence. We have four doggy beds scattered throughout our house to accommodate Watson's constant need to be close to me. He is the only one of our trio of terriers who actually just sits and gazes adoringly at me. He is a sweet old guy who provides me a little understanding of how God must feel when we just sit still before Him, adoring Him for no apparent reason except that we love Him.
God is truly blessed when we gaze with such pure admiration toward Him in the same way Watson gazes at me.
Newman
Newman (in the middle) is our exuberant four-year-old Welsh Terrier; a lively fellow with a heart full of love. Newman truly adores my husband, Warren, but has plenty of kisses for every member of our family. His eyes light up and his entire body wiggles with excitement when he wags his tail. Newman makes each member of our family feel like royalty. All we have to do is look in his direction and he erupts with happiness and throws all inhibitions to the wind as he attempts to lick us clean with his overflowing love!
God loves a jubilant admirer who makes Him feel like the royalty He is! God is bathed with a righteous joy any time one of His children exhibits such exultation for Him. God deserves it and, just like Newman's enthusiasm fills our hearts, likewise God is filled when receiving such worship and adulation.
Just like my furry children show us, we all have our own unique ways of adoring God. God loves and accepts all the ways we praise, worship, and love Him. Just like I enjoy the variety of puppy worship from Cooper, Watson, and Newman...God enjoys the variety of ways we come to Him. But, we need to ask ourselves, "Am I adoring God like He deserves and desires from me?" Whenever I come home and my three-member brood of pups isn't there to greet me, I wonder what's up; where are they? Usually, they are in the backyard and didn't hear me come in, but it has happened before that they have escaped and are wondering around the neighborhood.
Even though God knows all, He misses our adoration when it is gone. Usually, we just get busy and forget to spend time with Him, but there are times when, like my wayward boys, our hearts have decided to wander around our worldly neighborhood. During those times we either need to return on our own or let God guide us home (just like I do with my furry trio.)
Practical Christianity remembers to show God how much we love Him. Whether its in our own quiet way, with a gaze of adoration, or with a heart exploding with enthusiasm, God loves and basks in it all. So, no matter how you are made, display your "Adoration Manifestation" to the Man Upstairs!
(c)2009 Shona Neff
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