The King's Footprints

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there was one only.
This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from anguish,
sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints,
so I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there has only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”
The Lord replied,
“The years when you have seen only one set of footprints,
my child, is when I carried you.”


Copyright © 1984 Mary Stevenson

 

Becca shared with us that she recently read this and how special it was to her.  Chuck read it not too long ago as well.  It's a poem and song that Charles and I both loved when we heard years ago too.  It made me think about what other songs or poems we might have treasured so long ago that they may not have heard.  If you think of any - please share.

This got our conversation rolling and I shared about a devotion that I found in at work in Cindy's binder.  It was a good reminder of work and our attitude.  It related to Christ and how he came to earth to do His Father's work and to serve.  He always did his best to please His Father.  What an example!  His work ethic was not only an example for "the working class" but also for the leaders.  Jesus serves even though He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Are you a boss at your work, a mom or dad at home, a big brother or sister watching your siblings - do you demand work from your staff, children, or brothers or sisters?  Jesus doesn't demand us to follow Him or His rules.  He leads us, directs us, guides us, cares for us, and loves us.  He gives us choices -and consequences.  I think back to old kings and the rules and restrictions they placed on their people.  Most required specific procedures and permissions to even approach their thrones.  One would not even consider just walking up and speaking to the King without his permission.  Prison or even death may follow such a forthcoming attitude.  What an example our King is...He is King of Kings, yet he allows us to approach His throne anytime and anywhere we are.  He always welcomes our conversation and not only hears us, but listens to us.  He loves us and wants us to have a close relationship with Him.  What a priviledge and honor He has given us - I'm so thankful for His testimony and example.  Follow in His footprints - it's the best path to take!

Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

Favorite Scriptures

Tonight during our devotions - we all shared either or favorite scriptures or a scripture that touched us recently.

Becca shared first - her favorite right now is the Bible's core:
John 3:16

 ¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  

Chuck's favorite right now is:
Psalm 1

 ¹Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
 ²But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
 ³And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
 ⁴The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
 ⁵Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
 ⁶For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

A passage that creates such a picture in my head is:
Psalm 11

 ¹In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?
 ²For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.
 ³If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
 ⁴The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.
 ⁵The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
 ⁶Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
 ⁷For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.

A few of Charles' favorites are: 
Proverbs 27:7
⁷The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

Psalms 19:7-10
 ⁷The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
 ⁸The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
 ⁹The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
 ¹⁰More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

We had a great time digging deeper and discussing all of these passages.  It is a joy hearing my family devouring and sharing deeper meanings while learning more about the Lord's testimony.

Praying for changes soon

What if I told you 10 years from now your life 

would be exactly the same?

Doubt you would be happy.

So, why are you afraid of change?

Do what you feel in your heart to be right

for you will be criticized anyway!

Eleanor Roosevelt

Let your faith be BIGGER than your fear!

These are a few thoughts I pinned on pinterest recently and wanted to share with you.  I feel they are fitting today.  I am really searching for a change and praying for God's direction.  I have been in my comfort zone for quite a while and daily I am being shown it is time for change. I want it to be His timing and placement and do believe it will happen before long.  Thank you for praying!

OOOOOOOOOO that was foolish! - Don't be an Alligator!

It's kind of funny.  I try to find a biblical truth during the day to post - some little example that happens in our daily life which relates to something in the Word.  Maybe one day my kids will read these to their kids and they will learn something new while enjoying stories from our life.  Tonight we headed out to church.  Becca was just dying to get back to youth group - the holidays threw a little kink in the schedules.  Chuck and I hung out while waiting for her, our classes will start up next week.  We ran to the store and bought a little snack to munch on while we waited.  Caramel bugles and sesame sticks with Dr. Pepper Ten is what we choose. I was looking up something on my phone when that stinkin thing happened.  Shhhhhhhhhhlllllllluuuuuurrrrpppp!  Chuck was over there slurping his Dr. Pepper!  What do you suppose I did!  STOP THAT SLURPPPING!!!!!!!!  He just started cracking up!  You remind me of someone else - STOP THAT SLURPPPING!!!!  I've never seen that person get so frustrated so quickly until Becca and I were slurping our drinks. 
So then - what did I do?  Off to biblegateway to search for anything I could find about slurping.  Nope - nothing!  OKAY - I said  - there must be something about irritating someone else!  Well - God showed me!  When you try to find something in the Bible about someone else - He quickly shows you - hmmm - you are the one that needs the lesson!  I couldn't find the lesson that I was looking for with irritate, therefore Chuck was more than willing to find every word that is similar in the thesaurus.
Everything I was coming across was directed back at me  and how I was being a fool.  OUCH!  I definitely snapped and was quickly put in my place!  I know you have pet peeves too - we all do!  Remember not to act like I acted tonight - as a fool with anger residing in my lap being quickly irritated and snapping like an alligator!

Ecclesiastes 7:9
 Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit,
   for anger resides in the lap of fools.

Hoarders - Where are your treasures?

We like to watch hoarders sometimes.  If you can get past the disgusting - it can be very motivating.  It usually makes all of us want to get up to clean, organize and  get rid of things we don't need or use.  I just can't imagine how some of these people live.  They think they have so many treasures, but lack of care and filth has ruined most of their possessions.  The sad thing is some of their stuff started out nice and valuable.  Pile upon pile, they forget what they have, so many things lost, right under their noses.  The unbelievable value, sometimes on trash, sometimes on treasures they exhibit is unfortunate.  I just can't imagine losing my husband, my children or my home because I couldn't part with stuff. 

Matthew 6
 ¹⁹Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
 ²⁰But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
 ²¹For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

I like this passage in Matthew 6 - it is a reminder not to lay your treasures up on earth.  Lay them up in Heaven.   Where is your heart?   What do you love?  Are you spending more time/love earthly things more than heavenly things?

A sweet christian lady passed away not too long ago.  She was an elderly woman that lived near the time of the depression.  She was taught to hang on to lots of little things.  Containers and stuff that can be used for this and that.  Her daughter said, "Mama, let's just throw these away, you are not using them."  The mother would not hear of getting rid of the miscellaneous items.  Not too many weeks later, the sweet lady passed on to glory.  As her daughter looked around the house she wept.  All these things, so important and of such value to her mother, often the source of an argument still sat in the house.  Praise the Lord her mother was a believer and now in Heaven with her Savior.  The earthly things we think are so valuable here will not follow us to Glory - they will stay right here on earth.  Ponder a minute - what treasures can we lay up in heaven - make sure your heart is in the right place!

Last day to relax

then back to the grind
we are all just relaxin today
been a web surfer today
sleepy boy napping
artsy girl painting
neat husband is organizing
goofy puppy is playing
chilly day but nothing like gramma and grampa's
will return tomorrow
have a great day!

Happy New Year

2012 is going to be a great year!
We enjoyed our first day of the year spending the day at home.  We had our traditional New Years Day lunch - our black eyed peas, salt pork, wilted lettuce and jalapeno cornbread. 
We watched some football.
Becca and I walked over to the store to pick up a few things, it was a nice day to get back to walking.
This year my goal is to become more balanced.
It is something I struggle with - don't you?
I  will be working on being more balanced in all areas.

Spiritually - Bible Studies, Prayer, Serving, Giving, all of it.  I will get very interested in study - but if I don't apply it to real life - am I succeeding?  If I'm not at church or around others - do I know how I can pray most effectively for their needs? 

Physically - Eat Better - making more healthy choices for a well balanced diet...Exercise more regularly - I'm not ready for the aches and pains to begin - I'm still too young for that!  Help my family to achieve their health goals too.

Emotionally - the above areas will help me balance this area - be joyful- read something this week on pinterest that I liked....BE SO HAPPY THAT WHEN OTHERS LOOK AT YOU THEY BECOME HAPPY TOO!

Intellectually - learn some knew skills, read some new books, gain wisdom and understanding

Financially - budget, budget, buget - and follow it consistently and other suggestions at - daveramsey.com

Time -  using it wisely...spending quality time daily with the Lord, with my family, better cleaning and organizational routines, not becoming consumed in hobbies

Might add to these as the year goes on - but my word for the year that I am working towards is B-A-L-A-N-C-E!

We had a great devotion last night.   Charles reminded the kids to keep their eyes on the Lord and weigh everything according to His word.  He received a magazine - one that was kind of churchy - one that we did not order.  We have never even heard of this particular magazine.  He took a look at the magazine and was reading an article earlier in the day that caught his attention.  As he read it - he weighed it according to the Bible and it just didn't seem right.  The author rambled, didn't give references to prove his theories and only mentioned one verse in this rather lengthy article.  Sometimes we get wrapped up in what men have to say.  Be very careful that you don't follow men - but follow God.  If something doesn't seem right - it probably isn't...that magazine that unexpectedly arrived in our mailbox, deliberately landed in our trashcan.