Footsteps This an area to share moments in our life in which we
realize the significance of God. These are our daily
footsteps.
God was right there!
Daniel 3:14-25. This is the story of the fiery furnace we
all learn as children. I have cards with scripture verses on
them I keep at the kitchen sink on the window sill. The card
presently there is Dan.3:17-18. When I put it up there it
was just one of the cards. I kind of laughed inside thinking
it was one of the children's stories but pertinent because
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego said they would not worship
Nebuchadnezzar’s gods. A good lesson I thought.
Well, we had a ladies day at church this past Saturday with
a tremendous speaker. She had scripture after scripture and
something pertaining to each. Then she had Daniel 3:16-18
and I thought what a 'coincidence' the scripture on my
window sill!! Then she went on and it hit me like,
literally, a ton of bricks. Dan.3:17-18 then 3:24 and 25.
GOD did NOT forsake them. Jesus was in their midst in the
furnace and I KNEW right then He would be with ME through
this. I already knew it, that Jesus would be with me, but
this was....I can't explain it. I just sobbed and sobbed.
This scripture that is a children's story was for me, right
now. Having that card on my sink window sill was no
coincidence. It was God letting me know, He's here and with
me.
LEAP OF FAITH
A leap of faith, so easily the words flow from my mouth and
yet the very depth of these words frightens me to the core.
To leap; that part I find no qualms with. I can leap. Show
me where to go and I will jump. Show me the glorious road
and I will follow but the faith part is the remainder to the
whole equation. To leap, when I know not where I am going.
To jump into nothingness, to have faith, that takes all your
being.
I know logically that I now wonder in the darkness and yet I
feel comfort in my ways. I will move no mountain or cross
ANY great rivers. I feel ‘happiness’ in my conformability.
Not genuine happiness but a wonderful illusion of the
‘known’ world. I pretend as though I walk in the light, that
is why the thought of leaping into the unknown frightens me.
I know that I gain nothing wondering in this darkness away
from God and yet I fear having the greatness of the Lord in
my every step. I must be insane to fight the goodness of His
hands away and yet I know that is what I do every day by not
taking the leap that He longs for me to do.
I need help to jump into the Lord’s arms and be freed from
the fear of the unknown. I need His love surrounding my
every move so that my heart knows and not just my mind, that
He is the key to this life. I NEED my leap of faith
God's Justice
Do you ever find yourself watching
Judge Judy, People’s Court, Judge Joe Brown, Judge Hatchet,
or Judge Mathias? I have watched these shows with my
husband. Sometimes when we are watching, we disagree on the
outcome. This reminds me that even though my husband and I
both want justice, we each have a different opinion on what
the outcome should be for each situation.
When I realize that we are uniquely different in our
reaction, I praise and thank God that He dispenses justice.
He is perfect. He sees the beginning and the end. He knows
the final plan. He loves everyone and shows no partiality.
The greatest advantage God has is dispensing justice is that
He knows our hearts.
Although I sometimes think I know what God should do, I am
grateful that He will always do the right thing. I am
thankful that He is the master planner and designer of our
lives. If I could create the perfect dispenser of justice,
it would be God. God is truly amazing and awesome and
although He does not always tell me “why”, I know that
nothing is done by accident or chance. I also know that due
to His past reputation for forethought and planning He is
truly magnificent.
HE
CARES FOR US
For
those of you who know I am an animal lover....
Animals are just that, animals, but there is something so
special about them. They are like special friends from God. The
unconditional love, protectors and comforters in funny different
forms.
Who among us does not like dolphins. We hear stories about how
they swim along boats and ships for fun (either theirs or ours),
are the only sea animal that can fight off a shark, cute little
Flipper. They do tricks that make us laugh. Have been said to
protect people in dangerous situations. And sad things like
being caught in tuna catching nets. And so on.
Years ago we would see commercials for Sea World, or whatever,
advertising 'swim with the dolphins'. It was so cute, these well
trained dolphins swimming up to a person then sticking their
little snout out and slapping the water to splash you.
Years ago Jack and I visited Hank and Bobbi in the Keys and went
to a dolphin show. One of the trainers called on people from the
audience to come to the front to show how dolphins are trained.
I was one. I think, if I remember right, the idea was to relate
a treat to a trick and I didn't catch on. If that wasn't
embarrassing.
Anyway, the dolphins were so sweet and came up to the trainers
and got a pet and a treat for a trick. I thought wouldn't that
be fun to pet a dolphin? Wouldn't it be nice to get in the water
with them?
When we went on our cruise to the Bahamas with our friends from
England, Ruth and Chris, one of the sight seeing places had
'swim with the dolphins'. I said that was always something I'd
love to do, but it was way to expensive. Chris said to just do
it but there was no way I would spend such money that way.
I never really thought about it again, unless seeing an
advertisement for Disney World or something, that I can
remember.
Today, Wednesday, I got a call from Hank and Bobbi. They were on
their way to Pensacola to visit Joey and family. After talking
about our trip to see them January 14th to the 21st, Hank said
he had gotten a call from some very long and dear friends from
Colorado. I guess Hank had told them about me and my ALS bosom
buddy, and these friends called to say they had a pass for a
'swim with the dolphins' and wanted me to have it. As I
understand, they had gotten it for a daughter or niece a year
ago but she never came to visit.
Well, I should have jumped for joy, but all I could do was cry.
I felt like it was a gift from God. Something that I never
prayed for, nor even thought much about but God knew I would
enjoy, He so lovingly gave to me out of the clear blue sky.
This is the second time He has used an unusual (by unusual I
mean not a dog or cat) animal to remind me Jesus is right beside
me through this earthly journey home. A couple of weeks ago I
was standing at the kitchen sink and most of you know we have a
window right there, too. I was looking out and suddenly this
little bird flew right up to the window and touched it's beak to
it, directly in front of me. I was momentarily startled but this
joy went through me. I said "Thank you, Lord" out loud. It
reminded me of the Christian hymn that says "if His eye is on
the sparrow then I know He watches me".
The Bible is the only totally secure means to know He will never
leave us nor forsake us , but I think too that He sends little
things or people our way as just an extra touch of His love. It
seems, too, the Christian radio programming I listen to has been
written just for me!
Susie