tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22388680155781271252024-03-05T12:28:02.028-08:00The World Through My ShoesThe World Through My Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734320850956413139noreply@blogger.comBlogger152125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2238868015578127125.post-58170233554435684322022-05-20T08:21:00.009-07:002022-05-20T08:37:08.692-07:00The Letter<div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">As I do most mornings, I opened my Bible while eating my breakfast. There is just something about a big green smoothie with a dash of Jesus that sets my day. Today I am in Isaiah 37.<br /><br /></span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">The king has received a letter proclaiming his nation's impending demise from an army known for it's brutality and war-time success.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"> </span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">What the king does next is what speaks most to my heart.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"> </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">He does not call an emergency session.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">He does not demand strategies from his top warriors.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">He does not surround himself with his Heads of State giving him council.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"> </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">He went to God and spread the letter in front of Him.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">He took that piece of paper and laid it in front of God.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"> </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">All the words telling him exactly what would be done to him and in which he had no reason to doubt. He knew what that army had done to other nations.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br />He laid it out in front of God.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">And then he prayed.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"> </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">What's your letter my friend?</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">What do you need to bring to God?</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">What worry or stress or decision needs to be laid on the altar in front of God?</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"> </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">Follow King Hezekiah's lead.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"> </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">Lay the burden on the altar and pray.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">And just like the king, begin your prayer telling God of who He is.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">This isn't because God needs reminding.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"> </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">We do.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"> </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">Telling God how great He is, places our burden where it should be - at the feet of a very big God.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"> </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">May we all remember our King already conquered what it is we lay on that altar.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">With 3 nails and an empty tomb He destroyed our letter.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">And He stands victorious.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"> </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">Today, give Him your letter.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"> </span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">______________________________________________</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">Isaiah 37:14-20</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">Then Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it, and he went up to the house of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. Hezekiah prayed to the Lord, saying, “Lord of armies, God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made heaven and earth. Incline Your ear, Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, Lord, and see; and listen to all the words of Sennacherib, who sent them to taunt the living God. Truly, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the countries and their lands, and have thrown their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but only the work of human hands, wood and stone. So they have destroyed them. But now Lord, our God, save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, Lord, are God.”</span></div></div><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"> </span></p>The World Through My Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734320850956413139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2238868015578127125.post-69332253252927102542022-04-10T09:13:00.003-07:002022-04-10T21:59:18.284-07:00Ashes<p><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;">I sat in the raw that day.<br />A phone call of unrehearsed, unprepared and unspoken real.<br />Where your mind searches for answers and you know there are no answers to give.<br />You listen and you sit in their now.<br />You listen and feel every turn of the stomach.<br />You listen and feel every streak of the tear.<br /><br />"Give me the words God, give me the words." played on repeat in my mind.<br /><br />His voice was clear, "You know the story to tell."<br />"No God. I don't like that story."<br /><br />"Tell it. There's a reason it was your phone that rang."<br />"But God...."<br />"There is a reason those chapters in your story happened. I make beauty from ashes, remember? While you can't see the colorful beauty in it, I can. Offer your ashes."<br /><br />We often don't the 'why' of what we face. <br />We do know that God works all things to good if we love Him.<br /><br />You may be in the thick of the muck and the mire.<br />You may be barely keeping your head above the quicksand sucking you down.<br />Or maybe your story has more miles in the rear-view mirror than you ever want to talk about.<br />Because you'd rather not talk about it thankyouverymuch.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><br />Your chapter - your story - your ashes, hold beauty.</span><br />Even if the story is still being written, there is buried beauty that will emerge. <br /></span><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><br />Offer your ashes.<br /><br />Even if you can't see how a pile of ashes can be anything but dusty, offer your ashes.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;">You aren't the artist.<br />God is.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;">See what beauty rises.<br /></span></span></span>For He makes all things beautiful.<br />He makes all things new.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></p>The World Through My Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734320850956413139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2238868015578127125.post-46528951135255420562022-04-06T09:55:00.005-07:002022-04-06T14:14:30.499-07:00Two Men and A Tomb<div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">Two men stood at the body of Jesus.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea.<br /><br /></span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">They took a risk to be there.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;"><br />Both were members of the Sanhedrin; the very group which orchestrated Jesus' arrest, trial, beating, and stirred the emotion of the crowd to yell, "Crucify Him". Both men feared the power of the Sanhedrin if they were to be seen with Jesus.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;"><br />Even when Jesus was dead.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;"><br />Yet here they are risking it all. Joseph asked Pilate for Jesus' body, which Pilate granted. He took the body to a tomb where Nicodemus came with myrrh.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;"><br />Sometime previous, Nicodemus had come to Jesus. In the dark of night, so as not to be seen, he asked Jesus what he needed to do to be saved. Jesus' answered him to sell all he owned.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">Because Jesus knew.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">Jesus knew Nicodemus loved his wealth. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">It was his stumbling block and Jesus has a way of removing stumbling blocks.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">Nicodemus walks away sad as he was a man of great wealth.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;"><br />But something changed in Nicodemus that day and it's evidence is here as he is risking it all to be at the broken, beaten, dead body of Jesus. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">And He comes with myrrh to bury Jesus. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">Nicodemus comes fulfilling the very prophecy presented by the Wise Men as a gift at Jesus' birth.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;"><br />Joseph and Nicodemus. Two powerful and wealthy men, too afraid to be seen with Jesus, are the last two people to witness Jesus' dead body. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">They touched it.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">They covered it in myrrh.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">They wrapped it in linen and sealed it in a tomb.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;"><br />The Sanhedrin would stop at nothing to discredit Jesus' resurrection. And now two of their own become the strongest witnesses to it.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;"><br />Isn't that just like Jesus?</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">He has a way of taking the most unlikely of people and giving them a front row seat to His greatness.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">He took their fear and turned it into a fire to fuel their faith.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;"><br />And He still does.</span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;"><br />Friend, Jesus will take your Unlikely and fan the flames of your faith with it. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">When your Unlikely overwhelms you, Jesus takes it to the cross and makes something powerful with it.<br /></span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">Your fear doesn't stop Him.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">He has bigger plans for you.<br /><br />Even if the only place you meet Him is in the darkness of night.</span><br /><br /></span></div></div><div class="cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql o9v6fnle ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">____________________________________________</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">John 19:38-42</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">Now after these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, requested of Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body. Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred litras weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden was a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.</span></div></div><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;"> </span><br />The World Through My Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734320850956413139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2238868015578127125.post-39698975098257722402022-03-29T08:49:00.001-07:002022-03-29T08:52:20.609-07:00In The Garden<p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">Ever have one of those mornings in which nothing goes right?<br />Today was one of those mornings.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">While brushing my teeth, I tripped - on what I have no idea - and my knee smacked the open vanity door causing it to hit the bathroom door jamb. The glass nob of the vanity door broke. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">I sigh. I pick it up.<br />I slice my finger open.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">It's been 2 minutes. I've been up for 2 minutes.<br />The rest of the morning wasn't too much better.<br /><br />By the time I sat down to have my breakfast I felt the day already won and I hadn't even left the house yet. I open my Bible; </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">John 17 is the passage I'm to read today.<br /> </span><br />Jesus is praying. He prays for Himself as He knows the crucifixion is coming, He prays for the disciples in front of Him, and He prays for all believers.<br /><br />As He faced His imminent death, Jesus prayed for us...He prayed for me. <br /><br />After praying this prayer in John 17, Jesus leaves for the </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">Garden of Gethsemane where He would begin to make right what happened in the Garden of Eden.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">Contemplating this wonder, I look up and see the gardens outside my window. </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">Jesus and the story of 2 gardens. One perfect in beauty marred now by sin and death; the other watered by the dusty tears of the One who's death would soon bring beauty.<br /><br />I begin to think of my own garden. The one no one can see except Jesus. When was the last time I even weeded? I sure felt the pruning.<br /><br />Friends, maybe right now your garden is lush with the life of summer.<br />He prayed for you.<br /><br />Maybe your garden is nothing more than the leafless, barren sticks protruding from the frozen soil of winter.<br />He prayed for you.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">He prayed knowing the winter garden becomes spring's hope and knowing the lush garden of summer would soon give to the harshness of winter.<br /><br />No matter what your garden looks like, He knows the season you're in.<br /><br />And He prayed for you.<br /><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOy2HT5USWoidvlv53Is_FvMz5nMcepcbekYvlBFWOil7YFIrqLvEFtHtXVeExc2faBzz1Tz7SvJbX-KSy0p3arqQCMuf0yMLGgQlirkzjQRSWDun8odrG9ypHtl4z4DB1B8BHiGvDesDWx6tUjfTaETS0hZLOnI1wUfxopYw8qAeu9uWtEjbu-KyU8Q/s899/garden%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="506" height="457" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOy2HT5USWoidvlv53Is_FvMz5nMcepcbekYvlBFWOil7YFIrqLvEFtHtXVeExc2faBzz1Tz7SvJbX-KSy0p3arqQCMuf0yMLGgQlirkzjQRSWDun8odrG9ypHtl4z4DB1B8BHiGvDesDWx6tUjfTaETS0hZLOnI1wUfxopYw8qAeu9uWtEjbu-KyU8Q/w257-h457/garden%202.jpg" width="257" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">_______________________________<br /></span><span class="text John-17-13"><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;">John 17: 13 - 16 But now I am coming to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Source Sans Pro;"><sup> </sup><span class="text John-17-14" id="en-NASB-26766"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.</span></span> <span class="text John-17-15" id="en-NASB-26767"><span class="woj">I am not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them away from the evil one.</span></span> <span class="text John-17-16" id="en-NASB-26768"><span class="woj">They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.</span></span></span> <span style="font-family: Quicksand;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"></span></p>The World Through My Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734320850956413139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2238868015578127125.post-15389191521968041482022-01-09T16:08:00.000-08:002022-01-09T16:08:20.154-08:00A Winter's Walk<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Sun was streaming through my window. I lace up my boots and head outdoors. I don't remember the last time we had blue sky without the bitter north-east winds. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The sun feels good on my face. <br /><br />I decide to take a walk.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Snow still blankets the yards. The sun causes melting snow to drip off roofs. I hear birds chirp. <br /><br />We are all ready for spring. Winter has been brutal.<br /></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Walking past a field, I notice a tree in it's midst. <br />I am struck by it's stark grandeur as it stands alone. <br />It's branches barren with snow at it's roots.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God tapped me on the shoulder and said, "The tree looks dead, doesn't it? It is not. The tree is very much alive. If you could only see the life it holds inside then you would know spring's leaves are always there. Fruit comes in it's own season. And so will yours."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Be encouraged my friends. Be encouraged.</span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWJrNiOiu7PrYrK8kgPJOUwt9TAC0HUhUNaGgwPh6c53dcpJNveDsPuuJYO2aPjyouFgNVLrb0ghDuWljyD53BH_2IccScpiG2HyjlbL24gTs9D4ox7DUQsSmfIqyZlhmnOVSTveQ05Dd783mqF-rRrf16MY6Rgtk7yfjKojMPKSML0DJ-GHMMizT7vQ=s2519" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2519" data-original-width="2222" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWJrNiOiu7PrYrK8kgPJOUwt9TAC0HUhUNaGgwPh6c53dcpJNveDsPuuJYO2aPjyouFgNVLrb0ghDuWljyD53BH_2IccScpiG2HyjlbL24gTs9D4ox7DUQsSmfIqyZlhmnOVSTveQ05Dd783mqF-rRrf16MY6Rgtk7yfjKojMPKSML0DJ-GHMMizT7vQ=w564-h640" width="564" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>The World Through My Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734320850956413139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2238868015578127125.post-69788804115025982732021-07-24T10:32:00.000-07:002021-07-24T10:32:10.142-07:00The Apple Tree<p>When we first moved into the neighborhood, this apple tree stood regal. It's branches reached out in symmetrical unison; seemingly to the sky.</p><p>On many early morning runs, I'd find the ponies from across the street had broke through their fencing and stood munching on the tree's fallen apples.</p><p>Winter storms have stolen many of it's branches. It no longer stands as magnificent as in years past. Critters have made holes in it's trunk and call it home.</p><p>And yet today as I ran by, it's solitary branch was loaded with apples. </p><p>After all the broken, after all the losses, the tree still does what God created it to do.</p><p>Be encouraged. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZaIYVFIPRw/YPxOgMtyhnI/AAAAAAAAivw/pHAnmO3xcUIaUcEFvg0S5B7jhVEaNZzdACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210724_095039-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1378" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZaIYVFIPRw/YPxOgMtyhnI/AAAAAAAAivw/pHAnmO3xcUIaUcEFvg0S5B7jhVEaNZzdACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210724_095039-01.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>The World Through My Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734320850956413139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2238868015578127125.post-69250201930867550332021-06-13T19:44:00.000-07:002021-06-13T19:44:23.631-07:00Thorns<p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">It was well into the evening. The summer sun had almost set. <br />There was a knock at the door.<br />It is my neighbor.<br />Opening the door, I joined her on my porch.<br />She was struggling.<br />Words were not needed to tell me this. I could see it on her face.<br /><br />She talked. I listened. <br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">She was not tired from the battle, she was weary from the war.</span><br /><br />After she left, I thought of our talk well into the morning hours.<br />The Apostle Paul came to mind. He spoke of a thorn. A thorn he asked God to take away.<br /><br />God didn't.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">I thought of my neighbor's thorn and how she, like Paul, pleads with God to take it away.<br /><br />Friends, I wish I had magic words to make it better.<br />I wish I could tell you words that bring immediate peace.<br />I wish I could tell you my neighbor left feeling a hundred times lighter.<br /><br />I can't.<br /><br />Beloved, Paul found his answer in God's grace.<br />And in God's power to take the weaknesses and make them strengths.<br /><br />And that is the hope He gives us.</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br /><br />Maybe you feel the fresh cut of the thorns.<br />Maybe your hands touch the long-ago healed scars from thorns. <br />Maybe, like my neighbor, you are so very, very weary of the thorns.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">Friends, it is your thorns that fashioned His crown at the cross. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">And He did not take it off.<br />He died with the crown of thorns upon His head.<br /><br />Your thorns were nailed to that cross.<br />They died there.<br />When He rose 3 days later the thorns were gone.<br />The only thing He held was victory in His nail-pierced hand.<br /> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">And His victory is ours.<br />Be encouraged<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">------------------------------------------------------------------</span></p><p><br /><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span class="text 2Cor-12-8" id="en-NASB-29018"><sup class="versenum">2 Corinthians 12: 8-10<br /> </sup>Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me.</span><sup> </sup><span class="text 2Cor-12-9" id="en-NASB-29019">And He has said to me, <span class="woj">“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”</span> Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast<sup> </sup>about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.</span> <span class="text 2Cor-12-10" id="en-NASB-29020">Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in<sup> </sup>insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.</span></span></p><br />The World Through My Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734320850956413139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2238868015578127125.post-45854973040063083522021-03-09T14:51:00.005-08:002021-03-10T07:38:28.200-08:00The Letter<p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">The letter was sent to me. The return address reads the state penitentiary. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">Upon opening it I recognized the name of the sender. A quiet, hard-working man who had been employed by our company. He now found himself in a cell counting days. He was on day 284.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">It's true what they say, you know. Bad things happen to good people. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">I read the letter.<br />I am touched by it.<br />There is no earth-shattering information, nor deep emotional words. <br />No hint of anger.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">No whisper of self pity.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">Only gratitude.<br /><br />His words tell me of his arrest, his sentencing and what he hopes for over the next several months. He lays out his goals and speaks of his accomplishments.<br /><br />He offers thanks for the promise of employment. <br />He confides he has no words to convey the magnitude of what he feels around that hope.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">As promised, upon his release we brought him back. He's now been employed with us for several years.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">I still have the letter. I pull it out every once in awhile and read it.<br />Like today.<br /><br />The letter is a tangible thing I can hold reminding me what God asks of me in each today. <br />Show gratitude, find hope, seek joy and be thankful in all things.<br />This has nothing to do with circumstance.<br />It has everything to do with God. <br /><br />Did he become a rags-to-riches story? Has he become successful despite his past?<br /><br />Sometimes success is measured in the height of the corporate ladder climbed.<br />Sometimes it is measured in the journey one takes.<br />And sometimes success comes simply in the strength one gains from the battle.<br /><br />The world doesn't define your success.<br />God does.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">And in Him we are all a rags-to-riches success story.<br /><br /><br /></span><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NL3usI4x_Mg/YEf3bplO5hI/AAAAAAAAfIU/GXhx2nNNdd8Iazzi5D4SaPnqiwHdzR36QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210309_142155-01.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NL3usI4x_Mg/YEf3bplO5hI/AAAAAAAAfIU/GXhx2nNNdd8Iazzi5D4SaPnqiwHdzR36QCLcBGAsYHQ/w360-h640/20210309_142155-01.jpeg" width="360" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></p>The World Through My Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734320850956413139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2238868015578127125.post-15934754300697358862021-02-18T08:28:00.001-08:002021-02-18T08:28:55.415-08:00The Pivot<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span> We have all had those pivotal moments. The moment when your life changes whether you want it to or you don't.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span>It was Christmas Eve in the ICU. We were in the waiting room listening to the surgeon deliver the grave news of Daddy's condition. He asked for a directive in a decision that had to be made. Keith asked the question and looked around the room for an answer. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span>Every set of eyes turned to me.<br /><br />The pivot. <br /></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span>My siblings, our spouses, and the eyes of our dearest faithfuls turned and looked at me. The enormity of that moment seared into my forever. </span><span><span>To this day, I do not recall what he asked or the decision we made as a family. But I do remember every emotion of that moment.</span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span><span>That is the moment God injected into my quiet time this morning as I read Joshua 5.</span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span><span>Moses is gone. Joshua is now preparing to lead the people into war. With all the people around him, Joshua looks up and sees a man off in the distance with a sword in his hand. </span></span><span><span><span><span>I reckon with all eyes on him, he and I share a bond. <br /> </span></span><br />Joshua went to him.</span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span><span>Don't lose that part of the story. What appeared threatening, Joshua approached. He didn't stay in the comfort of the crowd. He left them and approached the threat.<br /><br />Joshua asks the man if he was friend or foe.<br />Here Joshua finds out it's Jesus and Joshua falls on his face in worship.</span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span><span>Jesus tells him, </span></span><span><span><span class="text Josh-5-15" id="en-NASB-5950">“Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” </span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span><span><span class="text Josh-5-15" id="en-NASB-5950">Joshua's pivot.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span><span><span class="text Josh-5-15" id="en-NASB-5950">In the wilderness, Jesus met him.<br />In all his uncertainty, Jesus met him.<br />In his fear, Jesus met him.<br /><br />And it was holy ground.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span><span><span class="text Josh-5-15" id="en-NASB-5950">Maybe you are faced with a room full of people turning their eyes to you or maybe it's the eyes staring back at you from the mirror, Beloved, Jesus is there. His eyes are looking at you too.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span><span><span class="text Josh-5-15" id="en-NASB-5950">He will lead you.<br />He will protect you.<br />And He will bring you to His favorite spot - holy ground.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span><span><span class="text Josh-5-15" id="en-NASB-5950">Beloved, whatever may be happening in your today, do what Joshua did.<br />Take off your shoes, feel the carpet between your toes.<br />Then bow down.<br /><br />God has you on holy ground.</span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span><span><span class="text Josh-5-15" id="en-NASB-5950">And He promises victory.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand; font-size: small;"><span><span class="text Josh-5-15" id="en-NASB-5950"><br /></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand; font-size: small;"><span><span class="text Josh-5-15" id="en-NASB-5950"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand; font-size: small;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="font-size: small;">Joshua 5:13-15<span class="text Josh-5-13" id="en-NASB-5948"><br />Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, he raised his eyes and looked, and behold, a
man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and
Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”</span> <span class="text Josh-5-14" id="en-NASB-5949">He said, “No; rather I have come now <i>as</i> captain of the army of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>.” And Joshua fell on his face to the ground, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?”</span> <span class="text Josh-5-15" id="en-NASB-5950">And the captain of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>’<span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">s</span> army said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"> </span></p>The World Through My Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734320850956413139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2238868015578127125.post-38958404848202055542021-01-28T08:36:00.007-08:002021-01-28T08:36:56.051-08:00Pinions of an Eagle <p><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"> <span data-offset-key="u5a3-0-0"><span data-text="true">True confession : sometimes I test God.</span></span></span></p><div data-contents="true"><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="3nkst-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3nkst-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="3nkst-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="cnhok-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cnhok-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="cnhok-0-0"><span data-text="true">Like the other day, I needed some encouragement and I told God as much. Sitting at the breakfast table, I told God I was going to flip open my bible and would He please let it land somewhere that would give me a whisper of comfort.</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="4mv02-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4mv02-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="4mv02-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="2872v-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2872v-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="2872v-0-0"><span data-text="true">It landed in Deuteronomy 32.</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="9a81c-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9a81c-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="9a81c-0-0"><span data-text="true">Really God? Deuteronomy?</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="afcu1-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="afcu1-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="afcu1-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="92cjn-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="92cjn-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="92cjn-0-0"><span data-text="true">That’s when God took out the 2x4 and smacked me across the head. Hard.</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="7bk7k-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7bk7k-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="7bk7k-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="42k88-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="42k88-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="42k88-0-0"><span data-text="true">Like an eagle that stirs up its nest,</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="cnfu2-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cnfu2-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="cnfu2-0-0"><span data-text="true"> That hovers over its young,</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="dfm8t-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dfm8t-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="dfm8t-0-0"><span data-text="true"> He spread His wings and caught them,</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="3bquv-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3bquv-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="3bquv-0-0"><span data-text="true"> He carried them on His pinions.</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="102le-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="102le-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="102le-0-0"><span data-text="true">Deuteronomy 32:11</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="b3qrh-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="b3qrh-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="b3qrh-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="b9ong-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="b9ong-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="b9ong-0-0"><span data-text="true">When an eagle wants to teach it’s young to fly, it pushes them out of the nest. The eaglet learns what her wings are for. If the eaglet comes in danger of not spreading her wings soon enough, the parent eagle will swoop down and carry them in its pinions back to the nest.</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="4dfta-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="4dfta-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="4dfta-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="aq0a4-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="aq0a4-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="aq0a4-0-0"><span data-text="true">Dare I admit the tears that welled up in my eyes friends?</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="a8d52-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="a8d52-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="a8d52-0-0"><span data-text="true"> </span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="8f38v-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8f38v-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="8f38v-0-0"><span data-text="true">But God, I’m comfortable in the nest.</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="744ap-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="744ap-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="744ap-0-0"><span data-text="true">Push.</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="85d8i-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="85d8i-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="85d8i-0-0"><span data-text="true">But God, I’m warm in the nest.</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="1o3li-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1o3li-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="1o3li-0-0"><span data-text="true">Push.</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="lb6h-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="lb6h-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="lb6h-0-0"><span data-text="true">But God, it’s safe here and I’m fed.</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="buu19-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="buu19-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="buu19-0-0"><span data-text="true">Push.</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="do0cu-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="do0cu-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="do0cu-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="c6ce2-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="c6ce2-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="c6ce2-0-0"><span data-text="true">In our today, there is no mistake we have all been pushed out of the nest.</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="5dmp7-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5dmp7-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="5dmp7-0-0"><span data-text="true">The gut-wrenching feeling of free falling is followed closely with confusion.</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="ddgi1-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ddgi1-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="ddgi1-0-0"><span data-text="true">God, why?</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="3l2sb-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3l2sb-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="3l2sb-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="68gbs-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="68gbs-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="68gbs-0-0"><span data-text="true">His pinions grab and we are returned to the comfort of the nest.</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="b71nc-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="b71nc-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="b71nc-0-0"><span data-text="true">Until the next push.</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="1a580-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1a580-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="1a580-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="9g6g6-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9g6g6-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="9g6g6-0-0"><span data-text="true">It is in the free fall Beloved that we learn the strength of our wings.</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="9v1kd-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9v1kd-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="9v1kd-0-0"><span data-text="true">It is in God’s faithfulness in which we are taken back to the place of rest.</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="5473l-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5473l-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="5473l-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="31k8l-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="31k8l-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="31k8l-0-0"><span data-text="true">The eaglet would never know the power of flight, if it wasn’t for the push.</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="2rh4p-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2rh4p-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="2rh4p-0-0"><span data-text="true">The eaglet would never know it was meant for great heights while in the comfort of the nest.</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="ak8kl-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ak8kl-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="ak8kl-0-0"><span data-text="true">The eaglet would never know its magnificence in which it had been created.</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="5eini-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5eini-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="5eini-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="5jfmr-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="5jfmr-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="5jfmr-0-0"><span data-text="true">Friends, maybe today you feel the free fall.</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="2ql9f-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="2ql9f-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="2ql9f-0-0"><span data-text="true">Maybe you long to feel the comfort of the nest.</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="dqje8-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dqje8-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="dqje8-0-0"><span data-text="true">Maybe you cry out for the safety of His pinons.</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="e94v2-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="e94v2-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="e94v2-0-0"><span data-text="true">Stretch your wings.</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="6v7j8-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6v7j8-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="6v7j8-0-0"><span data-text="true">Know we have been created for magnificence.</span></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="ev8l2-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ev8l2-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="ev8l2-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></span></div></div><div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="crd7p" data-offset-key="fbb3c-0-0"><div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="fbb3c-0-0"><span style="font-family: Fira Sans Condensed;"><span data-offset-key="fbb3c-0-0"><span data-text="true">And His pinions are always near.</span></span></span></div></div></div>The World Through My Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734320850956413139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2238868015578127125.post-53618021132961490052020-12-18T08:57:00.001-08:002020-12-18T08:57:51.555-08:00IN THE QUIET : The King<p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">The enraged king made the decree. Murder all the baby boys 2 and under.<br />A piece of the Christmas story no one talks about.<br /><br />My mind is unable to move past it. Such immense evil seems out of place among the greatest story ever told. I'm hard pressed to recall a sermon ever given on this piece of the story. The story of Christmas is about joy and Good News and Peace among men.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">Not murderous evil.<br />But here it is.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">Woven in this story is evil and pain and mourning; why God?<br /><br />"Evil is unreasonable; therefore needs no reason." The words spoken from my instructor in a training class not long ago.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">I mull on that while thinking of the weeping cries from broken mothers rising above the Christmas story.<br />The weeping cries of that first Christmas...and today.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">This year Christmas brings sadness, anxiety and tears for many; dare I say most.<br /> Christmas will look different than any other before. <br />Changed or cancelled traditions. <br />Empty tables.<br />Empty chairs.<br />Empty cupboards. <br />Even loved ones nearby may experience Christmas alone. <br />My heart is heavy for those; the ones I know the darkness of night holds cries in silence.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">Friend, it is in the Silent Night the glory of God shown all around them.<br />Your sadness is as much a part of the Christmas story as the joy it heralds.<br />The King in the manger holds the Peace that passes over any thing a king decrees.<br /><br />He is your Joy in the tears.<br />He is your swaddled Hope.<br />He is your Peace in the night.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">So let your tears fall.<br />For The King will once again come down. <br />The King of kings.<br />The Lord of lords.<br />He, Beloved, He is the One who will once again come down.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br />And wipe each tear away.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br /><br /></span><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br />--------------------------------------------------------------<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span class="text Matt-2-16" id="en-NIV-23186">Matthew 2: 16 When
Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious,
and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity
who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had
learned from the Magi.</span> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"></span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><br /></p>The World Through My Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734320850956413139noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2238868015578127125.post-40556742768659201982020-12-13T16:57:00.000-08:002020-12-13T16:57:08.661-08:00Drawers & Memories<p><span style="font-family: Nanum Gothic;">While cleaning out my dresser, I broke my nail. Deciding I would need the nail clippers in my nightstand, I walked over and opened the drawer. <br /><br />There it was staring at me. My youngest son's binky.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Nanum Gothic;">It caught me off guard.<br /><br />My youngest is 19 now. The binky is old and well past it's prime.<br />Yet, all these years, I could never throw it out.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Nanum Gothic;">I remember the day he gave it up. He had made the decision he was a big boy and didn't need it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Nanum Gothic;">I wasn't so sure.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Nanum Gothic;">He loved his binky and I envisioned long sleepless nights without it; for him and for me.<br />I placed it in my nightstand drawer just in case.<br /><br />The just-in-case never came.<br />Despite changing nightstands a couple of times since then, I was the one who couldn't part with it.<br /><br />Funny how that works.<br /><br />So tonight I sit here, a little melancholy for days gone by tucked safely in the past.<br />Tiny fingers have given way to man size hugs.<br />Strapping in car seats have given way to surprise visits at work.<br />Bedtime stories replaced with texts and phone calls.<br />The "I love you" is the same; only the voice has changed.<br /><br />While it's easy to get lost in the memories of yesterday, it's a gentle reminder how much parenting evolves in every one of life's seasons. </span><span style="font-family: Nanum Gothic;"><span style="font-family: Nanum Gothic;"><br /><br />The season of this year looks different for all of us.<br />But you know what?<br />Some day in our tomorrows, this will be our yesterday.</span> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Nanum Gothic;">And My hope tonight is simple. May this season in this year bring warm smiles from yesterdays that light into your tomorrows.<br /><br />The tomorrows wait for us.<br />Just like old binkies in nightstand drawers.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Nanum Gothic;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Nanum Gothic;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dt0Gjx_QqZk/X9a4Oz3YOII/AAAAAAAAdT4/H99bl1BlefUt88HOBgmqX0o_NkeXrxpqACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/binky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dt0Gjx_QqZk/X9a4Oz3YOII/AAAAAAAAdT4/H99bl1BlefUt88HOBgmqX0o_NkeXrxpqACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/binky.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Nanum Gothic;"><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Nanum Gothic;"> <br /><br /><br /></span></p>The World Through My Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734320850956413139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2238868015578127125.post-29311570937037985472020-12-02T09:00:00.001-08:002020-12-02T09:14:50.166-08:00At His Hem<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>The most dangerous place to be in a pressing crowd is on the ground. Yet, this is where she placed herself.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>Her bleeding made her an outcast. Desperate for healing, she suffered at the hands of others for 12 years. <br /> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>She didn't ask for the bleeding.<br />She didn't ask to be separated from family and friends.<br />She didn't ask to be driven away from all human contact.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>She longed for birthday parties and celebrations.<br />She longed for laughter at a dinner table.<br />She longed for a hug...a touch of any kind.<br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>She is unclean.<br />She is lonely.<br />She is desperate.<br /><br />And she finds herself at the feet of Jesus in a crowd that can easily trample her.<br />Next to her is the synagogue leader Jairus. He is leading Jesus to his home after pleading with Him to heal his daughter. I imagine the fear gripping her as she hopes to go unnoticed.<br /><br />There is no place more dangerous for her.<br /><br />She reaches out and touches the hem of Jesus.<br />This is not a straight hem stitched by Singer. No, this is the tasseled hem of Jesus's cloak.<br />The tassel represents the holiness and divinity of God.<br />Her touch of the tassel revealed what she believed Jesus to be - holy and divine.<br /><br />She was immediately healed.<br /><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql rrkovp55 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id hzawbc8m" dir="auto"><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Friend, find yourself where you don't want to be?</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Maybe you are sick in need of healing.</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Maybe you are drowning in the darkness of loneliness or anxiety or depression.</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Maybe you taste tears every day.</div></div></span><br />Take courage.<br />These trials place you at the most dangerous - and most holy - of places.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>You are at the hem of Jesus.<br /><br />Cling to it, cradle it or simply touch it.<br />Jesus will heal you.<br />Jesus will call out to you.<br />Jesus will honor you.<br /><br />And you too will hear the words, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace."<br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span> </span></span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"> _____________________________________________________________________________________</span></p><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="text Luke-8-40">Luke 8:40-48<br />And as Jesus returned, the people welcomed Him, for they had all been waiting for Him.</span><sup> </sup><span class="text Luke-8-41" id="en-NASB1995-25287">And there came a man named Jairus, and he was an official of the synagogue; and he fell at Jesus’ feet, and <i>began</i> to implore Him to come to his house;</span><sup> </sup><span class="text Luke-8-42" id="en-NASB1995-25288">for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying. But as He went, the crowds were pressing against Him.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="text Luke-8-43" id="en-NASB1995-25289"><br /><br />And a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone,</span> c<span class="text Luke-8-44" id="en-NASB1995-25290">ame up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. </span><span class="text Luke-8-45" id="en-NASB1995-25291">And Jesus said, <span class="woj">“Who is the one who touched Me?”</span> And while they were all denying it, Peter said, “Master, the<sup> </sup>people are crowding and pressing in on You.”</span> <span class="text Luke-8-46" id="en-NASB1995-25292">But Jesus said, <span class="woj">“Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that power had gone out of Me.”</span></span><sup> </sup><span class="text Luke-8-47" id="en-NASB1995-25293">When
the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling and
fell down before Him, and declared in the presence of all the people the
reason why she had touched Him, and how she had been immediately
healed.</span> <span class="text Luke-8-48" id="en-NASB1995-25294">And He said to her, <span class="woj">“Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></h3>The World Through My Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734320850956413139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2238868015578127125.post-2265054294056645012020-10-26T08:12:00.000-07:002020-10-26T08:12:14.576-07:00The Blind Men & The Crowd<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It's a short story; taking less than a minute to read. Pastor Ryan had used it as an illustration in a sermon on service. And although his sermon moved away from the verses, my mind camped in them. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And pitched a tent. </span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And built a fire.<br />Which brings me here today with you my friends.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Two blind men sat on the side of the road. A crowd had gathered as they were following Jesus on His journey. Desperate to be healed of their blindness, they called out to Jesus as He and the crowd passed by. "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!'<br /><br />The crowd didn't like it and sternly told the blind men to be quiet. What did the blind men do? They cried out all the more, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And this my friends, is where my mind would not let go.<br /><br />A crowd of people with good intentions, after all, they were there because they were following Jesus. But the ones lost in the crowd - the blind men - calling out to Jesus annoyed and angered them. The crowd had no problem telling the blind men to knock it off. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Seen any annoyed and angry crowds lately Beloved? </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Despite the crowd yelling at them, the men did not respond to the crowd. No screams of "leave me alone" or "get out of my way" or "It's my Freedom of Speech."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>No, as the crowd yelled, the men grew louder in calling out to Jesus</b>.<br />They called out to Jesus and ignored the noise of the crowd.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Oh how today's world could use more of these blind men.<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Make
no mistake Beloved, Jesus could've heard their whisper. He could have heard the
unspoken cry of their hearts. But today He chose to hear the loud cry
in the midst of the crowd. Why? I suspect maybe this wasn't just about the blind men, but also the crowd. Jesus heard the voices of both the crowd and the blind men.<br /></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Upon hearing the cries, </span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus stopped.<br />He stopped and healed.<br />He gave sight to the blind that day.<br />The two men and to the crowd.<br />Now they <b><i>all</i></b> saw Jesus. <br /><br />Once given their sight, the response of the blind men was not one of retaliation against the crowd. Upon given sight, their immediate response was to follow Jesus. They became part of the crowd.<br /><br />Jesus did not scold the crowd for their cries against the blind men. Their rebuke simply came in witnessing the compassion of Jesus on the blind men. The blind men that stood in their midst healed by the touch of Jesus.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now they all followed Jesus.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Friends, in the chaos of the noise, in the yelling of the crowd, be the blind men. No matter how loud the crowd's loud is, be louder in calling out to Jesus.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And be humbled when He heals you both.<br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></p><p><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> ---------------------------------------------------------</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> Matthew 20 : 29-34</span></p><p><i><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;"><span><span class="text Matt-20-29"><sup class="versenum">29 </sup>As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him.</span> <span class="text Matt-20-30" id="en-NASB-23823"><sup class="versenum">30 </sup>And two blind men sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!”</span> <span class="text Matt-20-31" id="en-NASB-23824"><sup class="versenum">31 </sup>The crowd sternly told them to be quiet, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”</span> <span class="text Matt-20-32" id="en-NASB-23825"><sup class="versenum">32 </sup>And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, <span class="woj">“What do you want Me to do for you?”</span></span> <span class="text Matt-20-33" id="en-NASB-23826"><sup class="versenum">33 </sup>They said to Him, “Lord, we want our eyes to be opened.”</span> <span class="text Matt-20-34" id="en-NASB-23827"><sup class="versenum">34 </sup>Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.</span></span></span></i> <br /></p>The World Through My Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734320850956413139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2238868015578127125.post-16125851698456413112020-10-13T09:07:00.000-07:002020-10-13T09:07:30.765-07:00Let There Be Light<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> "Let there be light."<br />The first words God spoke in the Bible.<br />Let there be light.<br /><br />Do you feel that way? I do. Often my prayer has been a simple, "God, let there be light."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In a world where we are hard pressed on all sides, God let there be light.<br />In a world where injustice reeks, God let there be light.<br />In a world of screaming and none listening, God let there be light.<br />Please God, let there be light.<br /><br />One verse later the Bible tells us God saw the light was good and He separated the light from the darkness.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God separated the light from the darkness.<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He separated it. <br />He did not banish it.</span><br /><br />Beloved, you are standing in the separation. <br />It is a battleground.<br />And it is won on our knees.<br /><br />In the weary, in the tired, in the tears that begin to taste of defeat the strongest voice is one that whispers, "God, let there be light."<br /><br />For you see, the light destroys the darkness. <br /><br />Beloved, He is the Light.<br />We are the candle.<br />His is the victory.<br />Ours is the prayer, "Let there be light."<br /><br />Then watch how brightly it shines.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">________________________________________________________________<br /></span></span></p><p><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></span></i></p><p></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span>Genesis 1:3-4<br />Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkne</i>ss.<br /><br /></span></blockquote><p></p>The World Through My Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734320850956413139noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2238868015578127125.post-33805884731034495192020-09-09T11:21:00.000-07:002020-09-09T11:21:04.490-07:00Rise Up<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"People are tired. I've counseled and I've talked with many people. The one thing I hear over and over again is that people are tired. The division, the emotion, the unknown - people are tired." Pastor Ryan spoke one Sunday not long ago.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">His words hit home. It wasn't just me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Often I found myself trying to steal away in search of normal; the life we had pre-Covid. It remains elusive. The most bothersome is the haunting look in the eyes of others. The worry...the fear...the lack of joy. <br /><br />I miss people's smiles. Even on the worst day a stranger might smile and you, for a single moment, felt it might be all ok. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We don't see smiles anymore.<br />People aren't ok.<br /><br />Which leads me here. An open Bible on my lap and more than a few words for God. I sip my coffee and tell Him I really didn't envision my life to be like this. I'm no stranger to difficulty, but this? What is this God? There is such division - how do we get back to normal God? We can't even decide what normal is anymore.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God had no problem answering me.<br />He did so through the words of Mordecai.<br /><br />Mordecai had raised his orphaned cousin Esther and she became Queen. A law passed authorizing the killing of all the Jews. Mordecai tells Esther she must approach the King to stop the killings from happening. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Esther reminds Mordecai p</span>eople don't approach the King, they must be summoned. She hasn't been summoned and to approach the King could mean death to her.<br /><br />Mordecai responds,"</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="text Esth-4-13" id="en-NIV-12776">Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape.</span> <span class="text Esth-4-14" id="en-NIV-12777">For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance
for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s
family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal
position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:13b-14.</span><br /></span></p><p><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="text Esth-4-14" id="en-NIV-12777">And there it was. God answering all my questions.</span><span class="text Esth-4-14" id="en-NIV-12777"><br />"...And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="text Esth-4-14" id="en-NIV-12777"> </span><br />How can I believe God makes no mistakes and then question why I'm having to live in today's world? How can I believe we are all made for a purpose and then question why my purpose is now?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God's answer stung a little today.<br />Maybe a lot.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We may not be all given the gift of leadership, but make no mistake Beloved, we are all called to lead. As we follow Jesus, we are to lead others.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Even right now, when everything seems so dark and it's impossible to see, He is calling us to lead. And we must dust off our tired and rise.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Rise up.<br />Fix your eyes on the Light and follow Him.<br />He will direct your journey, and those who surround you.<br />Those around you - the ones you share life with - are the very ones you lead.<br />Rise up.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Rise up.<br />Do not be afraid.<br />When you are met with only fear in the eyes of others, fix your eyes on the One who abolishes fear. <br />You will never find fear in His eyes.<br />Rise up.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Rise up.<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Afraid of confrontation? It may be the very thing you find yourself in.<br />Do you stumble in your words? You may find a crowd listening to you.<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You see, God does not discard your weaknesses. He amplifies them.<br />
Your weakness is the very thing that speaks loudest of His strength. <br />
Rise up.<br /><br />Rise up.<br />Beloved, you are called to lead. Even in the dark.<br />You may be tired, you may take rest.<br />You may not camp there.<br />Rise up.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Rise up.<br />The hands of the warrior may be tired; he still draws the sword.<br />The hands of royalty may shake from uncertainty; she still straightens the crown.<br />Beloved, you are called to be both.<br />God Himself goes before you.<br />Rise up.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In all this uncertainty, He is our certain. <br />In all the uneasy, He is our steadfast.<br />We are His sons.<br />We are His daughters.<br />We are His warriors.<br />We are His royalty.</span></p><p><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="text Esth-4-14" id="en-NIV-12777">And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?</span></span></span><br />
<br /></p>The World Through My Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734320850956413139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2238868015578127125.post-90519039864813322542020-08-30T14:24:00.002-07:002020-08-31T05:49:51.539-07:00Dry Land<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"> "As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land." <i>Exodus 14:16</i></span></blockquote><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></i><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There they stood staring at the waters in front of them. There was no way to go. They were fleeing for the lives from a military indignant in their anger and now pinning them against an impassable body of water.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Their answer came when God told Moses to raise his staff, the waters parted, and they were given dry land. The solution God gave them wasn't a footbridge. It wasn't the ability to walk on water. The answer to their problem was dry land. <br /><br />Dry land. The very mention of it brings to mind pictures of dust or dead crops or desert or thirst or sweltering heat. Yet here God uses dry land to bring His people closer to the Promised Land. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ever feel that way Beloved?<br />Living in the difficult and you pray and you cry out and you plead only to be given ... dry land.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"But God, I thought you'd give me abundant waters. This is dry land."<br />"God, I asked you to bring healing. This is dry land."<br />"Lord, I thought you'd make it all go away. This is dry land."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In faith and obedience, the Israelites took their steps onto dry land. They moved forward. And you know what was waiting for them on the other side? More dry land. But that which angrily pursued them was gone.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Their journey through the dry land brought many lessons, much growth and it eventually brought them home to a land of abundance.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Take courage my friends. <br />Our journey is long. <br />Our journey is hard.<br /><br />We struggle, we scream, we cry.<br />The tired is etched on our face.<br />We hunger for fellowship.<br />We search for all that is good and true.<br />We long for the Living Water to quench our parched throats.<br /><br />This is our today.<br />It is not our tomorrow.<br /><br />We have a home waiting for us in a land of abundance, filled with all things good and surrounded in breathtaking glory where God Himself will wipe our tears.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But first, dry land.<br /></span></p><br />The World Through My Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734320850956413139noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2238868015578127125.post-18735283490586720162020-07-04T12:47:00.003-07:002020-07-04T12:47:38.385-07:00Tattered<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I slept in; giving me a much later start than normal. Pulling in to town, I drive the main street to where I will start my run.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A group of 30 men are walking in formation; some in fatigues, some in camo, some in shorts and tee shirts. All are carrying a flag. They are laughing among themselves. I honk and wave as I drive by. They wave and yell. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I park my car and begin my run.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a few hours a Freedom Parade would be rolling through town. A parade of nothing more than people driving their cars boasting their pride of our nation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As my miles clicked by, more cars and trucks drive by with American flags flying in the wind.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hot rods and daily drivers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Farm trucks and show trucks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Motorcycles and scooters.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Old, young, black and white.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Republican and Democrat. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today isn't about policy or change or politics.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today is about celebrating the freedoms we have no matter what our opinions.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pause to take this picture.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A tattered Old Glory flying high above the cars gathering below.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Running back to my car, I think about that flag.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Her frayed edges show her wear as if she feels the turbulence of the current times.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One can see Lady Liberty take a haggard breath.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yet the flag still flies. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today, maybe now more than ever, we celebrate the flag and for all it stands.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Freedom. Strength. Courage.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The edges may be frayed, but we the people, will take our bruised and battled hands and raise you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We the people, will always fly you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>The World Through My Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734320850956413139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2238868015578127125.post-90209097855752979092020-05-04T15:45:00.000-07:002020-05-04T15:49:14.400-07:00Green Pastures & Still Waters<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When my kids were little - and not so little - I would make them sit down and do their homework. However, most times it became apparent I could not "make" them do anything. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I could regulate them to the table, but I could not make them work.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I could punish them, but I could not make them complete their assignments.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And so the battle began.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">One fighting in authority, the other fighting in independence.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Two Alphas with locked horns over a battle of wills and neither conceding despite the exhaustion.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Locked horns look different for everyone. Maybe your horns are locked with a child, a parent, a spouse or a boss. Maybe the Alpha you fight is an industry or a company or a system of injustice. Maybe your fight is within, battling anxiety or depression or worry.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Your horns are locked and you are fighting with every ounce of your being.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We are all struggling right now. Each and every one of us. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Which brings me here; staring at the pasture in front of me. The words from Psalm 23 come to mind.</span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">He makes me lie down in green pastures,</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">He leads me beside still waters,</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">He restores my soul.</span></span></i></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"God, help me. I'm tired of this fight."</span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Lie down in the green pasture."</span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"God, I'm a little too busy in this fight to lie down. Help me in the fight." </span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"I am. Lie down."</span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Can't you see I'm right? Can't you see the fight I'm in? I am tired God and can't do this on my own. You need to help me."</span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Beloved, this isn't your fight. The struggle is yours, but the fight is Mine. Lie down in the green pasture. It isn't a request."</span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">He MAKES me lie down in green pastures.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">God knows my burden. He knows my weary. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And the answer is to lie down in the green pasture. In the abundance of the field I am fed, I am nourished, I am given rest.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You see friends, it is after time in the pasture that one is strengthened enough to be led. It is then when He leads us to the still waters; those life-giving, soul-quenching still waters. We must recharge and strengthen ourselves before we can begin the journey to the water. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For it is at the still waters where He restores our soul.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">He doesn't fix it. He doesn't mend it. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://theworldthroughmyshoes.blogspot.com/2019/05/he-restores-my-soul.html" target="_blank">He restores it</a>.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But first, He makes us lie down in green pastures.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lie down friends.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Find His abundance in the pasture in front of you.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span id="goog_1037393780"></span><span id="goog_1037393781"></span><br />
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<br />The World Through My Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734320850956413139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2238868015578127125.post-16122486679227643622020-04-13T18:50:00.001-07:002020-04-13T19:33:20.987-07:00A Little Girl & A Valiant Warrior<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When the Syrian army crossed into Israeli land, they took her. We know nothing more than what we are told - she was a little girl and she now waited on the warrior's wife.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He, the warrior, we know a bit more. He is a supreme commander in the Syrian Army giving him not only a big job, but much prominence and wealth. Not many are described as "valiant warrior" and yet, he is. He is loved, respected and adored.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">How do we know this? Because the nameless little girl taken as a slave cares so deeply for him she wishes him healed. You see, the valiant warrior suffers from leprosy. An incurable disease which will take everything from him; his status, his wealth, his prominence. He stood to lose it all. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Perhaps his bravery and valiance rubs off on her for she finds the courage to speak to his wife. "I wish that my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his leprosy." This nameless little girl isn't dismissed as speaking nonsense. The big important and prominent people in society listened to her. The Syrian king granted the warrior's wish to find the prophet and writes a letter to the King of Israel. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A little girl spoke and warriors and kings listened. This little girl had the courage to speak.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Receiving the King of Syria's letter stating his highest ranking officer was coming to be healed, the King of Israel became distraught and tore his clothes. He held no power to heal him. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The king was distraught.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The prophet was not.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Elisha told the king,"Why have you torn your clothes? Now let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel." Elisha had the courage to speak up to the king.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Naaman, the valiant warrior, arrives with his horses, his men and his chariots to Elisha's house. It is evident a man of importance stands in the doorway. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Elisha does not meet him. Instead Elisha sends his messenger to the valiant warrior and says, "Go and wash in the Jordan 7 times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Go and wash? Go and wash?? This is what he says to do? The valiant warrior is angry at such simplicity. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He has successfully waged war on enemies. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He successfully created war campaigns that captured kingdoms. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The entire Syrian army was at his command. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Simple was not in his vocabulary. Simple would not do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">His men question him. If he were asked to do something great would he not do it? How much more then if all he is asked is to go and wash?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The men had courage to speak up to their commander.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Naaman washes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">His skin becomes clean.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He is healed.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The valiant warrior's healing came when others had the courage to speak up to those in authority over them. Dare we say, the healing came because of the courage of a nameless little slave girl? Had she not spoken of Elisha, the valiant warrior would not be washing in the river.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In a time when the world we know has been turned upside down, may we all find the courage of this nameless little girl. The courage to speak of hope and healing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">God used a nameless little girl to show a valiant warrior who He is. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He can use you too.</span><br />
<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">2 Kings 5:1-16<br /><span class="text 2Kgs-5-1">Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man with his master, and highly respected, because by him the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> had given victory to Aram. The man was also a valiant warrior, <i>but he was</i> a leper.</span> <span class="text 2Kgs-5-2" id="en-NASB-9650"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>Now the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken captive a little girl from the land of Israel; and she waited on Naaman’s wife.</span> <span class="text 2Kgs-5-3" id="en-NASB-9651"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>She said to her mistress, “I wish that my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his leprosy.”</span> <span class="text 2Kgs-5-4" id="en-NASB-9652"><sup class="versenum">4</sup>Naaman went in and told his master, saying, “Thus and thus spoke the girl who is from the land of Israel.”</span> <span class="text 2Kgs-5-5" id="en-NASB-9653"><sup class="versenum">5 </sup>Then the king of Aram said, “Go<sup> </sup>now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” He departed and took with him ten talents of silver and six thousand <i>shekels</i> of gold and ten changes of clothes.</span></span> <br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="text 2Kgs-5-6" id="en-NASB-9654"><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>He
brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, “And now as this
letter comes to you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that
you may cure him of his leprosy.”</span> <span class="text 2Kgs-5-7" id="en-NASB-9655"><sup class="versenum">7 </sup>When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man is sending <i>word</i> to me to cure a man of his leprosy? But consider now, and see how he is seeking a quarrel against me.”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="text 2Kgs-5-8" id="en-NASB-9656"><sup class="versenum">8 </sup>It happened when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent <i>word</i>
to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Now let him come
to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.”</span> <span class="text 2Kgs-5-9" id="en-NASB-9657"><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>So Naaman came with his horses and his chariots and stood at the doorway of the house of Elisha.</span> <span class="text 2Kgs-5-10" id="en-NASB-9658"><sup class="versenum">10 </sup>Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and <i>you will</i> be clean.”</span> <span class="text 2Kgs-5-11" id="en-NASB-9659"><sup class="versenum">11 </sup>But Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Behold, I hhought, ‘He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.’</span> <span class="text 2Kgs-5-12" id="en-NASB-9660"><sup class="versenum">12 </sup>Are not Abanah
and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of
Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.</span> <span class="text 2Kgs-5-13" id="en-NASB-9661"><sup class="versenum">13 </sup>Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said, “My father, had the prophet told you <i>to do some</i> great thing, would you not have done <i>it</i>? How much more <i>then</i>, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”</span> <span class="text 2Kgs-5-14" id="en-NASB-9662"><sup class="versenum">14 </sup>So he went down and dipped <i>himself</i> seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="text 2Kgs-5-15"><sup class="versenum">15 </sup>When he returned to the man of God<sup> </sup>with all his company, and came and stood before him, he said, “Behold now, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel; so please take a present from your servant now.”</span> <span class="text 2Kgs-5-16" id="en-NASB-9664"><sup class="versenum">16 </sup>But he said, “As the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> lives, before whom I stand, I will take nothing.”</span></span></blockquote>
The World Through My Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734320850956413139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2238868015578127125.post-20167572220631503972020-01-24T08:19:00.000-08:002020-01-24T08:28:44.415-08:00Something out of Clay<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389">"Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something on the wheel." </span>Jeremiah 18:3 (NASB)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389">Jeremiah stood outside the potter's house and he watched. The potter sat at the wheel creating something. Unhappy with what was on the wheel, the potter takes the spoiled object and makes it into another vessel - a different vessel - one that pleased the potter.<br /><br />God uses the imagery as a tool in conveying to Jeremiah that He too will take what is spoiled and make it into something pleasing to Himself.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389">While this is a powerful message of hope and transformation, I find myself staring at the word "something".</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389">"..and there he was, making something on the wheel."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389">Something.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389">Jeremiah makes no mention of what is being made - a cup? A plate? A jar? Can Jeremiah even determine what it is?</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389">God asked him to go down to the potter's house. Jeremiah did, and he watched. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389">And waited. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389">Jeremiah watched from the sidelines as the clay was poked, prodded, molded, spun and watered. He was asked only to watch. Jeremiah wasn't the one creating the pottery piece, he was there to watch it happen.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389">Do you find yourself on the sidelines watching someone you love be molded?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389">Are you standing outside of the potter's wheel while they are being transformed?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389">You find yourself only being able to watch. And it is hard.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389">Yours is a broken heart, a tired heart, a helpless heart begging for something beautiful to come from the clay yet unable to do anything about it. You can merely watch.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389">You aren't the potter. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389">Take encouragement my friends.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389">Jeremiah wasn't given the reason why he was there until after he watched the clay be transformed. The purpose of his sideline was given after the Something was made into Something Else and the Potter was pleased.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389">The sideline may seem overwhelming.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389">The sideline may be the hardest place to stand.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389">Yet, the sideline is also the front row to watching Something being made that pleases the Potter.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389">It is a hard earned blessing that comes with many cuts, scratches and bruises.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389">And just like Jeremiah, after standing outside the potter's wheel, after the completion of Something, vs 5 tells us, "</span><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>Then the word of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> came to me..."</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God spoke.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He spoke to Jeremiah and He will speak to you.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The sideline is tough.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is also the place where He meets you. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">______________________________________________________________________________________________</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Jer-18-1" style="font-size: small;">The word which came to Jeremiah from the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> saying,</span><span style="font-size: small;"> <span class="text Jer-18-2" id="en-NASB-19387"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>“Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will announce My words to you.”</span> <span class="text Jer-18-3" id="en-NASB-19388"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something on the<sup> </sup>wheel.</span> </span><span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389"><span style="font-size: small;"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup>But
the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the
potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to
make. Jeremiah 18:1-4, NASB</span></span></span></i></span></blockquote>
<span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389"><br /></span>
<span class="text Jer-18-4" id="en-NASB-19389"><br /></span>The World Through My Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734320850956413139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2238868015578127125.post-77927133324652594002019-11-07T19:47:00.000-08:002019-11-10T07:47:36.505-08:00The Bumper Sticker<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's just before 7 a.m. and I am driving to work. The sun is peaking from behind the mountains. My car stops behind a pick up truck at the intersection. I wait to turn right. I am third in line.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I read the bumper sticker on the back of the the tailgate -"Defeat DIPG". It takes but a moment to realize I am behind my neighbor. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">How many people have followed behind him unaware of the meaning behind the bumper sticker? How many have thought it was nothing more than a $1 purchase slapped onto the back of a tailgate?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Maybe it cost a dollar, but the adhesive in which it sticks to the tailgate came at the cost of his 6 1/2 year old daughter. A bright, beautiful light snuffed out by an incurable and cruel disease.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It wasn't just a bumper sticker.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was a proclamation of the wounds he bore.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I think about the wound losing a child brings. A pain so sharp, the wound is that of a bleeding gash in which you do everything to stop the bleeding. Eventually, slowly, the wound begins to heal. The pain shows itself as a cut. Yet a single word, a smell, a memory opens the wound wide and once again all energy is devoted to stop the bleeding.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Those are the dark days. The days you wonder if you'll ever see a sunrise again.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I glance to my left at the mountains and the still rising sun. The sky is alive with color.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There were many days I had wondered if the sun was rising.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was. I just couldn't see it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The wounds from those days are scars now; never gone but a very near reminder. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Not a single one of us doesn't have a cut in need of healing. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Maybe it's a wound bleeding uncontrollably.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Maybe it's a scar.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But it's there.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You know what else is there? The sunrise.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There may be days the clouds are so thick, you can't see it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But it's there.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It just may be tomorrow before you can see the colors the sunrise brings. </span></span><br />
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<br />The World Through My Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734320850956413139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2238868015578127125.post-44272663784511143902019-08-26T19:26:00.000-07:002019-08-26T19:26:03.165-07:00Football WhistlesDespite the euphoria from running my trail race the week before, my motivation to get out and run was non-existent. I drove to town, parked the car and began running the streets of my hometown.<br />
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The miles took me past my old high school. A Saturday morning and the parking lot was filled with cars. The familiar sound of a football whistle filled the air and tumbled me back into old memories. Suddenly my boys were in 4th, 5th, and 6th grades and I was the cheering mom running up and down the sidelines with each play. <br />
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The days of fundraisers, practices and football board meetings were no longer a whisper of yester-years but as real as the moment I was in. I remember the parents I still call friends and the football coaches who taught our boys how to push harder. I witnessed grown men pour love into all those boys and I watched those very boys grow stronger. I remember chain gangs, bear crawls and constant encouragement from the parents and the coaches.<br />
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I don't remember the last whistle.<br />
I walked off the sideline and didn't know football was finished in our home. My boys didn't want to play anymore, and we supported them.<br />
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It is by God's grace sometimes that we don't know the lasts. With my youngest becoming a senior this year, I've pondered "the lasts" a lot these last few days.<br /><br />By God's grace I didn't know the last time I would pick up my boys into my arms.<br />By God's grace I didn't know the last time I would tuck them into bed for the night.<br />
By God's grace I didn't know the last time I would read them a nighttime story. <br />
By God's grace I didn't always know the lasts.<br />
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And I am so thankful for that.<br />
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Looking square in the eyes a year full of lasts, I find myself often these days with a tear or two rolling down my cheek. Although a parents job is never finished, it sure feels like a big door is closing and sealing itself shut. <br />
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Don't get me wrong, I look forward to the day my summer doesn't end with a school bell ringing or having my vacations dictated by a school calendar. I look forward to the great big world that awaits my boys and the adventures they choose. I look forward to the new chapters that await all of us.<br />
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But for right now, this mama is thinking about tiny bodies crawling into my lap, kissing the boo-boos away...and football whistles.<br />
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<br />The World Through My Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734320850956413139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2238868015578127125.post-42790094412990891012019-07-21T20:46:00.000-07:002019-07-21T20:46:31.859-07:00You Never Know<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A festival brought thousands into my hometown. The main road through town closed and hot rods of every make and color lined their way up and down the street. Folks passionate about their cars, and restoring history, showcased their hard work for everyone to see.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My husband Dennis was wiping down our friend Dan's 1949 Chevy pick up truck which he had driven to the festival. I make my way over to find the guys sitting in the camp chairs, chiding each other like all car guys do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The band played in the background and played some of my favorite songs. It was easy to sing along. Talking with the guys about everything and nothing; Kevin made his way over to say hello.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The talk was light and we talked of his beautiful red 1967 GT 500 Mustang parked with the hood up. We watched as others admired his car.<br /><br />"It's been 3 years since I've taken that car out." He tells me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> "You need to change that. Toys are meant to be played with." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I smile. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He smiles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"My brother committed suicide 4 months ago."<br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In an instant, we had dove into the deep end of the pool. Truth be told, he was probably just as surprised at saying it as I was at hearing it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"Oh Kevin, I am so sorry. I am so, so sorry."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"Yea. It's fine. I'm over it."<br />"No you're not."<br />"You're probably right. I yelled at everyone in the office the other day."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"That's grief," I say.<br />"My wife said the exact same thing."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He recounts the time leading up to the day his brother took his life. He shares details, worries; concerns. I listen. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"I had no idea he was struggling." He turns and looks at me, "I just didn't know."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"You're a man and you are wired to fix things. If I could be so bold as to guess, I would guess your biggest struggle with your brother's death is you can't fix it. You didn't know what led to what he did. Now, because he's gone, you'll never know. You can't fix it and that difficulty is overwhelming."</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He nods. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He studies the people around us. "Sometimes you just never know."<br /><br />"Yea, sometimes you just never know." </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I share my own story. I share losing mom to cancer and dad to a car accident within a year of each other; both at Christmas. I share how the doctors didn't know what caused dad to lose consciousness and veer off the road. I share watching them work fervently on dad 48 hours later as his blood pressure dropped once again and they fought to keep him alive. I share I watched them cry as he succumbed to what they fought so hard against.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"We'll never know why dad lost blood pressure. The brightest minds couldn't figure it out that day. Sometimes, you just never know."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He nods in agreement, "Sometimes you just never know."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our conversation had been a better part of an hour.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"Why don't we go get ourselves some raspberries and ice cream?" I suggest. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Somehow it just seemed appropriate. Raspberries were the reason for the festival and Dad always felt better after ice cream.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We eat the ice cream and berries. Laughter once again fills the conversation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The truth is, you never know the day God will use your story and your struggling climb up to the mountain top as a beacon into the valley below. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You just never know.</span><br />
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The World Through My Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734320850956413139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2238868015578127125.post-86092720485295173762019-07-01T20:38:00.000-07:002019-07-01T20:42:56.163-07:00A Gift of Pebbles<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A beautiful summer day, and the park was sparse with people. The path I was running twisted into a clearing. A young family lazily walked toward me while I ran. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Their 3 year old daughter walked about 20 paces ahead of them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She watched me. Soon her little feet began to run.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Without warning, she made a 90 degree turn immediately into my path. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"NO JAYCE NO! Honey, noooo!!! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Both parents shouting and trying to stop their daughter. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I stopped as quickly as I could and avoided the 2 of us colliding.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Grateful I avoided an unfortunate incident, I knelt down to look into her eyes.<br />I offered my hand for a high five.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Nice running you were doing there. Can I have a high five?"<br /><br />She immediately knelt into the same position I was in.<br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Can I have a high five?" again offering my hand.<br /><br />She looks at my hand, reaches down to the only thing she can find, and gifts me a tiny fist full of pebbles.<br />Her face could not contain the enormity of her smile.<br />My smile matches hers.</span><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Offy8OZJxZ4/XRrRCx7t85I/AAAAAAAAPkc/0l7NCGfZDDotCn-UBc-0y_99Vo59y2MbgCLcBGAs/s1600/pebbles.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Offy8OZJxZ4/XRrRCx7t85I/AAAAAAAAPkc/0l7NCGfZDDotCn-UBc-0y_99Vo59y2MbgCLcBGAs/s400/pebbles.jpeg" width="300" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"This is the best gift I have received all day. Thank you."<br /><br />Her parents smile, take her hand and continue on their way.<br />I do the same.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My heart full, I thought about Jayce and her gift of pebbles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jayce saw an empty hand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Without hesitation, she filled it with the only thing she could, a fist full of pebbles.<br />I saw someone reaching out to help me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I did the only thing I could do, and opened my hand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And we both walked away smiling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thank you Jayce for reminding me to give what I can with simply what is within my reach.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This runner had no idea a gift of pebbles could feel so good.</span><br />
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<br />The World Through My Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15734320850956413139noreply@blogger.com0