Reflections and Footprints
Every so often I have conversations, overhear a conversation, or hear something on television or radio; something that arouses my Christian senses. The other day while listening to satellite radio a song caught my ear. The lyrics were different than the typical worldly lyrics I hear in commercial music.
I've found that people of a Christian nature hear/listen differently. The world around us is in pain. I can see, hear, and even feel it. Can you? I've had conversations with certain people where the discussion despite my kind efforts remains focused on negativity in the form of gossip, ignorance, or outright hate. No matter the positive nature of my words, the person I'm speaking with remains focused on the pain. As a Christian in many cases, I can hear this hurt so much so that it becomes visible through the person's non-verbals. Face, gestures, etc...
Nonetheless, as I listen my heart focuses on the beauty in sight. Yes the pain of the world is real but the beauty of our Lord's Passion is ever present. It surrounds me, comforts and shields me from the tides of pain that sweeps in and out of life's moments. All I have to do is embrace faith and forever hold on tight no matter the amount of sorrow, temptation, or hate I'm faced with. Keeping faith that all will work out for the Glory of God is the attitude that reaps great rewards.
As we reflect on the life of MLK, I have reflected on some very rough moments in my life and on each remembrance I find myself saying, "What the heck was I so worried about?" As tough and as painful as many of these moments were I got through them all. Try it, think back to a financially difficult time, or a moment of great sorrow. Once there start to come forward in time to your present state and see how you feel. Now think of Christ and His love and sacrifice for you. There is no struggle past or any current struggle you are experiencing that our Savior cannot reconcile with His grace. Each of us is still here, living, learning, and striving for salvation through Christ. His love for us is AWESOME!
Our minds, eyes, ears, hearts, and our very souls have changed as a result of baptism. "A New You!" Now reborn in Christ we hear and see differently than non-believers. I love Him for this new love!
I know love that keeps me calm at storms
And keeps the blood inside me warm
Wherever I go it never leaves
Like a suitcase of memories.
I know love is stronger than I am
It beats me up, and keeps me trying
And when I can't, it fights for me
From boy to man, and in between.
Let us pray a prayer of poetry:
Heavenly Father -
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed
he was walking along the beach with the LORD.
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene, he noticed two sets of
footprints in the sand: one belonging
to him, and the other to the LORD.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
he looked back at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along the path of
his life there was only one set of footprints.
He also noticed that this one set of footprints happened at the very lowest and saddest
times in his life.
This really bothered him and he
questioned the LORD about it:
"LORD, you said that once I decided to follow
you, you'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most
troublesome times in my life,
there is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when
I needed you most you would leave me."
The LORD replied:
"My son, my precious child,
I love you and I would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering,
when you see only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you."
In Jesus' name, we pray...
Amen! Amen! Amen!
SCRIPTURE
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God. who loved me and gave himself for me.
I've found that people of a Christian nature hear/listen differently. The world around us is in pain. I can see, hear, and even feel it. Can you? I've had conversations with certain people where the discussion despite my kind efforts remains focused on negativity in the form of gossip, ignorance, or outright hate. No matter the positive nature of my words, the person I'm speaking with remains focused on the pain. As a Christian in many cases, I can hear this hurt so much so that it becomes visible through the person's non-verbals. Face, gestures, etc...
Nonetheless, as I listen my heart focuses on the beauty in sight. Yes the pain of the world is real but the beauty of our Lord's Passion is ever present. It surrounds me, comforts and shields me from the tides of pain that sweeps in and out of life's moments. All I have to do is embrace faith and forever hold on tight no matter the amount of sorrow, temptation, or hate I'm faced with. Keeping faith that all will work out for the Glory of God is the attitude that reaps great rewards.
As we reflect on the life of MLK, I have reflected on some very rough moments in my life and on each remembrance I find myself saying, "What the heck was I so worried about?" As tough and as painful as many of these moments were I got through them all. Try it, think back to a financially difficult time, or a moment of great sorrow. Once there start to come forward in time to your present state and see how you feel. Now think of Christ and His love and sacrifice for you. There is no struggle past or any current struggle you are experiencing that our Savior cannot reconcile with His grace. Each of us is still here, living, learning, and striving for salvation through Christ. His love for us is AWESOME!
Our minds, eyes, ears, hearts, and our very souls have changed as a result of baptism. "A New You!" Now reborn in Christ we hear and see differently than non-believers. I love Him for this new love!
I know love that keeps me calm at storms
And keeps the blood inside me warm
Wherever I go it never leaves
Like a suitcase of memories.
I know love is stronger than I am
It beats me up, and keeps me trying
And when I can't, it fights for me
From boy to man, and in between.
Let us pray a prayer of poetry:
Heavenly Father -
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed
he was walking along the beach with the LORD.
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene, he noticed two sets of
footprints in the sand: one belonging
to him, and the other to the LORD.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
he looked back at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along the path of
his life there was only one set of footprints.
He also noticed that this one set of footprints happened at the very lowest and saddest
times in his life.
This really bothered him and he
questioned the LORD about it:
"LORD, you said that once I decided to follow
you, you'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most
troublesome times in my life,
there is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when
I needed you most you would leave me."
The LORD replied:
"My son, my precious child,
I love you and I would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering,
when you see only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you."
In Jesus' name, we pray...
Amen! Amen! Amen!
SCRIPTURE
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God. who loved me and gave himself for me.
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