Walking with Jesus... (The New Footprints)

Although I try to add my own content to my blogs, every once and a while I come across a parable I feel compelled to share. The following is one such allegory….

Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together.

For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace. But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns. For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling His consistently. You and Jesus are walking as true friends!

This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your footprints that once etched the sand next to Jesus' are now walking precisely in His steps. Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and Jesus are becoming one.

This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice another change. The footprints inside the large footprints seem to grow larger. Eventually they disappear altogether. There is only one set of footprints. They have become one. This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints is back This time it seems even worse! Zigzags all over the place. Stops. Starts. Gashes in the sand. A variable mess of prints.

You're amazed and shocked. But this is the end of your dream.

Now you pray: "Lord, I understand the first scene, with zigzags and fits. I was a new Christian; I was just learning. But you walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with you."

"That is correct," replied the Lord.

"Then, when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps. I followed You very closely."

"Very good. You have understood everything so far."

"So when the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I suppose that I was becoming more like You in every way."

"Precisely!" said Jesus.

"So, Lord, was there a regression or something? The footprints separated, and this time it was worse than at first."

There is a pause as the Lord answers, with a smile in His voice. "You didn't know? It was then that we danced!"

Your Call to Order:

Give thanks to the Lord for He is good!

Power Verses:
To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born, And a time to die;
A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill, And a time to heal;
A time to break down, And a time to build up;
A time to weep, And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, And a time to dance;
(Ecclesiastes 3: 1-4).

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
(Psalm 100:4-5)

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Which Would You Choose: Wealth, Success or Love?

This morning as I was skimming through my emails, I run across an absolutely beautiful email sent to me by a friend. I have no ideas where the story originated or its title, but I knew immediately this was an email I had to share. The email contained the following narrative …

A woman came out of her house and saw three old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize them. She said “I don’t think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat.”
“Is the man of the house home?” they asked.
“No,” she replied. “He’s out.”
“Then we cannot come in,” they replied.

In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened.
“Go tell them I am home and invite them in!”
The woman went out and invited the men in.
“We do not go into a House together,” they replied.
“Why is that?” she asked.
One of the old men explained: “His name is Wealth,” he said pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another one, “He is Success, and I am Love.” Then he added, “Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home.”

The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed. “How nice!” he said. “Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come and fill out home with wealth!” His wife disagreed. “My dear, why don’t we invite Success?” Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion: “Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!”

“Let us heed out daughter-in-law’s advice,” said the husband to his wife. “Go out and invite Love to be our guest.”
The woman went out and asked the three old men, “Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest.”
Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other two also got up and followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success: “I only invited Love, Why are you coming in?”

The old men replied together: “If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would’ve stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever He goes, we go with him. Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!”

If the decision was left up to you and you alone, which one would you have invited in? Although the decision seems oblivious when each choice is in front of us, the decision becomes much harder when it’s masked behind a promotion that takes time away from your family, or the opportunity to pursue a passion that pulls you away from a loved one that needs your care and concern, or a position and title that requires to you step all over people (sin) on your way to the top.

Your Call to Order

In all your decision making, make sure love is an essential part it. I leave you with Paul’s’ words to the Corinthians…

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (I Corinthians 13:1-7).

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Life Do-Overs

Has there ever been a time when you just wanted to erase a portion of your life or do it over? There have been many times I wished life had do-overs, like the game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” offers life lines. If I could just go back in time with the knowledge and wisdom I have today, I could fix those awful mistakes I made … and may be my life would be better today because of it.

I have talked to friends and family members who have lost their jobs during this economic disaster, and one of the recurring thoughts everyone has is: “I wish I had been a better steward of my money when times were good.” The sobering fact is: life doesn’t always offer do-overs, but Jesus Christ offer so much more (a clean slate, a fresh start, forgiveness, etc.). The same wisdom the Lord gave Joseph to prepare and assist thousands of people (in Egypt and the surrounding area) for and through seven years of famine is available to you and me. But be forewarned, this wisdom came to Joseph during one of the worse times of his life--he was in prison for a rape he did not commit.

I wish life could be wonderful for everyone, but to be totally honest with you, the most creative and inspirational times of my life came during some of the worse times of my life. The knowledge and maturity that I gained during those rough times exceeded what I gained from years and years of just living life.

The common denominator in the paragraphs above is “wisdom.” When we know better, most of us do better. What we tend to forget, is that Wisdom comes from God. We’ve put so much trust in man, and in the system (government), and very little trust in God, and the Spirit of God that is in us. When I spend too much money, my spirit lets me know. I start to feel bad about my purchase and I get a desire to return it-- even though the flesh wants to keep it.

God’s wisdom is invaluable. He’ll let you know when you’ve said too much, when it’s time to pull out of the stock market, when you should walk away, when you should buy, when you should sell, or when you should be still and listen for that still small voice of the Holy Spirit. God is faithful; He will never leave you, nor forsake you (Deut 31:6). Trust in Him during these tough economic times, and let his wisdom be your guide in all that you do.

Power Verses (from New King James Version):

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding (Proverbs 9:10).

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Campaigning for Christ

Aren't you glad it is over? If you, like me, have been glue to the television set for the past month or so eager to find out which direction (right or left) the country will likely gravitate towards--I know you're glad it's over.

Even though I had my own personal preference as to whom I would rather see in the white house, I had to concede my prayers to God's will.

Now what? Three weeks of politics is long enough to establish an addiction to it. I still find myself coming home to turn on the television hoping I didn't miss anything. My personal opinion is: if the Christian community would organize itself like the winning campaign can you imagine the number of young people we would reach for Christ? That's just a thought, but that is also something we can do and should do to redirect our focus back to where it should be, on God, and reaching souls for God.

Let's be honest, how many people did you call up to make sure they were registered to vote? Is that number less than or greater than the number of people you called to make sure they were going to heaven? Who monopolized your conversations? Was it Palin, Obama, or Jesus?

I know people (personally) who hadn't volunteered to serve in the church in ages, yet they found time to canvass for their favorite candidate. I even found time to sit outside a gas station to register people to vote, yet the idea of sitting outside a gas station to hand out salvation tracts for Jesus, never crossed my mind, until now.

I am not here to judge what you did or did not do; I just want to encourage you to redirect your excitement or dismay, and reach someone for Christ. Remember, God does not rejoice in heaven because we vote, He rejoices when a lost soul accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Your Call to Order:
What can we take from the campaigns that will help us be better representatives for Christ?

1. Balance stabilizes you. There will be many things in life that will try to divert our attention; it is up to us to have godly goals and priorities, and to remain focused. Giving little time and attention to the little things and little distractions, and more time and attention to the big goals and essential things in life. Jesus had a goals to “seek and to save” those who were lost from the tribe of Israel, but he also understood the important priority of spending time in the presence of God, and often pulled away from time wasters to pray and focus on God and God’s will.



2. Stand for something. There is an old saying, “if you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.” In addition, it’s difficult to lead people when you have no idea where you are going. Jesus made the comment in John 15:14 that: “…if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”



3. Network, fellowship, find ways to connect with people. As representatives for Christ we have marching orders to teach all nations, and to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19, paraphrased). Our job description requires us to be in the presence of others: reaching out to those who are in need, and extending a hand of friendship and support to those desiring to make that transition from death to life abundantly in Jesus Christ.

Power Verses (New International Reader's Version):

So you must go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And you can be sure that I am always with you, to the very end" (Matthew 28:19-20).

"You say, 'Four months more, and then it will be harvest time.' But I tell you, open your eyes! Look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest right now. Those who gather the crop are already getting paid. They are already harvesting the crop for eternal life. So those who plant and those who gather can now be glad together (John 4:35-36).

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A Goal to Forgive

“Put up with each other. Forgive the things you are holding against one another. Forgive, just as the Lord forgave you” (COL 3:13 NIRV).

Can you believe it? The year is almost gone, and many of us will start making our New Year's goals once again. We'll make goals to lose weight, to eat healthy, to spend more time with the family, or to be more sociable, etc. Others will adopt any New Year’s resolutions guaranteed to enhance their lives, or to bring more blessings with little or no effort on their part. Still others will enter into the year with the same goals and attitudes they had last year. Whatever your goals are, or wherever your goals came from, if they are anything like the goals I have listed above—they are the easy goals. Ask someone to set a goal to forgive someone—this year—who has wronged them. Ask them to choose—this year—to love their neighbor as themselves (a neighbor who is obnoxious and annoying).

Not long ago in my own marriage, I had to make the decision to move past the hurt and pain of not having my expectations met, and to choose to love my husband in spite of his or my imperfections. Often I am force to reflect on one of my life quotes: “The best revenge is massive success.” I am not referring to monetary gain, or attaining greatness; I am referring to the ability to rise above the pain with God. To not allow bitterness, revenge, spite, or anger keep me from attaining true greatness; which is the ability to love others as God loves them and to see them as God sees them, worthy of being loved.

Your Call to Order...
Believe me when I say, “To forgive is a hard thing to do, and without God it is even harder.” Pray and ask God to give you His grace and mercy in helping you to forgive; then, set a goal to do one of the following: forgive someone who has wronged you, pray consistently for someone who has despitefully used you, bless someone who has cursed you by doing something nice for them. In return, may God “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12).

Power Verses (from the New King James Version)

"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do" (Colossians 3:12-13).

"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4:31-32).

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Are You Worried about Losing Your Job?

Are you worried about losing your job? So many people are during these financially troubling times. I myself had a big scare today when the government contract I was working on was cancelled--out of the blue. As soon as I got word via email, I could feel a little panic attack coming on. My first thought was to check with the contract office to determine if there were any new contracts coming in that could benefit from my skills and abilities; my second thought was to call friends and my current circle-of-network contacts to let them know my status, and to find out if there were any openings with their companies. Sadly, my last thought was to cast my cares before a loving and gracious God. It only took a few moments, but in that brief moment of time I realized that no one could be of more assistance to me than God. When I turned to God, I received peace; and with that peace God blessed me with an email containing a new job opportunity with the same company.

My sister in Christ, I do not know what the future hold for me, you or this country, but you and I should feel blessed to know who holds the future.

Your Call to Order...
There is an old saying that I would like you to keep in mind whenever you are tempted to leave God out of whatever you are going through, it says, “Pray as if everything depended on God. Work as if everything depended upon you.”

All the steps I wanted to take to insure my continual employment were valid steps to take, but there was no need for me to take those steps alone when God was available to walk me through the process. God loves us, and wants the best for us. If you are worried about losing your job, cast your worries before a loving and gracious God.

Power Verses:

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:6-7).

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble (Matthew 6:34).

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Am I My Sister’s Keeper?

“Am I my brother’s keeper?” Those were the words spoken by Cain when the Lord inquired, concerning Abel’s whereabouts.

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground (Genesis 4:9-10).

Cain’s words: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” were words spoken by a person who was unconcerned with his brother and who was unwilling to accept responsibility for his brother’s welfare. Jealousy, bitterness, and envy led him to mumble against his brother, assume the worst about him, plot against him, and eventually murder him because God had accepted Abel's offering, but not his.

If only he understood:

• Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” (Ecclesiastes 4:9).



• Jesus’ words, For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).



• There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear… (1 John 4:18)

If he had understood these points, do you think he would have responded differently?

When the pain of you sister cries out from Darfur, a broken relationship, cancer, the death of a loved one, loneliness, or from the remnants of a failed business venture; what do you say? What do you do? Do you feel a since of responsibility to watch out for, care for, or pray for her?.

The story of the Good Samaritan gives a wonderful example of what it is to truly be your sister’s (or brother’s) keeper:

Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” (Luke 10:30-36).


Your Call to Order...
Do you believe that you are your sister’s keeper? If you have failed to show a lack of concern for your sister:

• Repent of your lack of concern, your inactivity, or the fear that has hindered you from reaching out.



• Confess to God your weakness in this area, and ask Him for wisdom and guideance.



• Resolve to be your sister's keeper.

Power Verses:

"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matthew 5:44-45).

"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself'" (Galatians 5:14).

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Let Your Voice be Heard

Most people who know me will tell you that I am a pretty reserve person. The less attention I bring to myself the better. In my younger days, I was known for ducking behind people, slumping down in my chair, or sneaking out the back door at the mere mentioning or slither of the tongue to form an “S.” All right I’m exaggerating a little, yet this past weekend while watching my son play soccer, you couldn’t shut me up. I was totally oblivious as to who was looking at me, judging me, or wishing I would be quiet. There was a little boy out there who was doing his best to master the game of soccer, and I wanted him to know that someone sees his efforts, and appreciates the fact that he is playing his little heart out. When I finally came to my senses and realized I had gone from quietly sitting on the bench to shouting “You go D.J.” and giving two thumbs up on the sidelines, the still small voice of the Holy Spirit asked me: “Are you ready to let your voice be heard like that for God?”

For a moment I was taken aback by my thoughts, but then I realized that God wants that same passion in our hearts that we give to our loved ones, when we are cheering them on in their endeavors. You know, that boldness in acknowledging in public and in private who God is and what He sacrificed so that we might have life and have life more abundantly.

I am convinced that love, produces the fruit of boldness and strength. How else can you explain, people boldly quitting their jobs to do something they love and are passionate about; or women who have been given the strength to stay in dead relationships because love has them believing that things will get better; and have you every considered the possibility that it was God's love for us that gave Him the strength to lay down the life of His only begotten son?

Jesus says in John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." Because I love my son, a reserve person like me can lay down shyness and be the loudest person in the house. Because I love you, I am willing to be open and honest and share with you what God has shared with me. Because I love God, I am willing to boldly proclaim His name to the world. Do you love God enough to boldly proclaim His name to the world?

Your Call to Order...
If you struggle with sharing the gospel with others, get to know Jesus better. When you begin to understand and feel how much He loves you, you can not help but share. Just as my son will remember those times I cheered for him; God will remember those times we spoke up for what was right; led someone to Christ; and praised His Holy name.

Power Verses

"Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching" (2 Timothy 4:2).

"The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of justice" (Psalm 37:30).

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If You Don't Want Your Life to be Wasted, Focus It!

It was the Spring of 1998 when I read my first Elizabeth George book, Woman After God’s Own Heart, and I can honestly tell you, it was one of the first Christian books that got me excited about living for God. This may sound silly, but at the time I didn’t think God care about me planning my day, setting goals, and establishing priorities. I knew God loved me, and called me to love my neighbor as myself. I also knew that God had given me gifts and talents that were to be used to glorify Him, but I was shock when I realized that God truly cared about the intimate details of my day, and wants to be apart of the decision making process. In addition, Elizabeth’s book sparked a passion in me for order and balance God’s way. Some people are attracted to music, and are drawn to musical activities, events, and circles. Some people are very athletic and eager to participate in any type of sporting event they have time for. I am attracted to order, self-help books, organizational tips, and lectures on one’s life purpose--sounds boring I know but it has its advantages. Your constantly thinking ahead...How can I make my life more meaningful? How can I make a difference? What is my purpose in life? In addition, the pursuit of balance and order keeps me focused (and mindful of those goals I want to accomplish in life); and with focus I am less likely to be jumping from one extreme to the other.

In her book titled: Loving God with All Your Mind, Elizabeth George gives a wonderful description of what characterizes a focused woman, and what sets her apart from other women. Here is what she says:

...First, a focused woman knows where she is going. She has a sense of God’s call on her life, and that call gives her direction each step of the way and makes it easier for her to make decisions. With her sights set on these God-given goals, she is able to say no to the trivial. She chooses from among her options that which moves her toward her life goals.

This focus for her life also gives her greater energy for reaching that goal. She doesn’t waste energy wondering what to do or wandering aimlessly from option to option. Knowing exactly what she wants to do and needs to do, she pours her energy into those things. Her knowing what to do and her knowing that God will enable her to serve Him where He has placed her gives her confidence as well as energy. She knows where she is headed and why, and she makes all that she does count for her Lord.

Your Call to Order
My challenge to you is to think about some of the things you do daily, are you making most of what you do count for the Lord?

Power Verses (from the New King James Version)

The steps of a good man [or woman] are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his [or her] way (Psalm 37:23, emphasis added).

In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3:6).

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Leaving a Legacy

The day was June 10, 2006, and I am ashamed to say that it had been 10 years since I was last home (the home of my roots). Having grown up as a military brat it was difficult calling any place home when you are being shuffled from one location to another. My father had successfully and faithfully served 28 years in the Military, and here we were surrounded by a host of relatives and friends at my Grandfathers funeral. To my surprise, the church was packed with people, all there to honor a man who had lived ninety years and died unexpectedly. I had taken it for granted that he would be around at least another year or two to see his newest great-grandkids, but God had called him home. 

What I thought would be a sad occasion turned out to be an awesome celebration of life. Over and over again I heard people talk about what a wonderful man my grandfather was. He was saved at a very young age, and seemed to have been blessed with the foresight and wisdom beyond his years. Most of his life was spent serving in the church until is health failed him, and he was unable to get around on his own. He never worked for anyone, at a young age a neighbor taught him carpentry, and his grandfather taught him how to farm. He used both those skills to provide for a family of eight: himself, my grandmother, five boys and one girl, and much much later a grandson -- whom he adopted as his own (just as his grandfather had adopted him). 

 When there was pressure from friends and family to move to the city, or to get a real job (working for someone else) he was unmoved. Times were scarce, but his family never went hungry nor were they without the basic necessities of life. As his sons stood up one by one and spoke of their father, I saw upon each one of them the light. The light of understanding that everything that their father did, was for their own good. All his children were saved – including the one that preceded him in death. They all understood the importance of lovingly supporting, honoring, and providing for their families. That was my grandfather’s legacy. After meditating on the legacy my grandfather left, I had to ask myself: “Sandra, what will be your legacy? What will come forth from your womb, from your mouth, from your efforts, from your time here on earth—in which God has blessed you with?” Maybe the spirit is prompting you to ask yourself the same questions? 

  

Your Call to Order 

My challenge to you for the next couple weeks and beyond is to, first of all, decided how you want to be remembered by family, friends, coworkers, etc. and what you may want to leave them when you pass. Then make sure you are using your talents and gifts to bring glory and honor to God; and that you are striving to do what is just in the eyes of God (Micah 6:8).

  

Power Verses (from the New King James Version

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age”(Matthew 28:19-20).

“Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31).

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