A Pair of Shoes

How many do you have? Shoes, I mean. Living in a country which has known the blessing of God most of us have more than one pair. We have our “running shoes,” “dress shoes,” “work shoes,” (or boots) — and then there’s that “favorite pair” that may be as “old as the hills” but are simply too comfortable to throw away! Shoes.

In Romans 10:15, the Bible gives us an example of those with “beautiful feet.” “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things.” It is true — a simple pair of shoes can be used to bring glad tidings.

When our church mission team journeyed to Guatemala, they took all of the suitcases allowed for their flight. They filled them — not all with personal belongings, but with things needed for the people of Guatemala. One of their greatest needs is shoes. Paula remembers the line that stretched long, and then even longer than she could have imagined with people longing to get their feet in a pair of shoes—USED shoes at that. Some had no shoes. Others had shoes boasting no ends — but feet pushing through where the toes should have been. Other feet had been pushed into shoes too small for so long that they were covered with blisters and sores. Some didn’t get a pair . . . There weren’t enough . . .shoes.

Recently, a friend of mine who relayed this incident. A young man we will call Mike* lived his life with a giving heart not generously found in the ways of those his age. As a teenager, he loved life, did well in school, and played his personal best at the sport of soccer. After high school graduation in 2007 he joined the Marines, and, literally gave his all for our country.

As his friends mourned their loss, one shared a story — a story very few knew — another story of what can be done with just a pair of shoes. One day Mike came to his mother with a need. His soccer shoes were wearing out — he was certainly needing some new ones. So, Mom went and bought for him the shoes he needed.

Soon after filling this need, Mom was picking Mike up from practice when she happened to glance at his feet. “Why are you wearing your old soccer shoes?” she asked. “Why aren’t you wearing your new ones?” Mike’s response showed the bigness of his heart. You see, there was another boy on the team who’s shoes were worn out too — Mike thought his friend needed shoes worse, so, he gave his friend his own brand new shoes.

Mike had no idea his deed that day would be part of the story characterizing the legacy of who he was. After all, it was “just a pair of shoes.”

It’s in the simple things we share Him — carrying His peace and glad tidings wherever we go . . . And who knows, someday, here or in Heaven we may here a story of what He did — through our “pair of shoes!”

By: Janene A. Dubbeld

*Names used for this story only

Take it with You

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things.”

Romans 10:15

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.”

Psalm 36:23

“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”

I John 2:6

Confidence

Confidence. Some people have an “over abundance” while others are plagued with striving to attain more! We’ve all seen the “confident” sports team who just KNOWS they are going to win the game. They’re picked, chosen, favored to win. Perhaps the team they are up against doesn’t stand a chance. Then, swooping down from somewhere comes the smashing of their “over confident” smiles. They leave the field defeated — and shaking their heads at the turn of events.

Over SELF confidence is what got them in trouble! They were “big enough” in their own eyes to do the job — which confidently got them into trouble!

The best kind of confidence we can have isn’t confidence in ourselves, but confidence in Another. Another with a hand large enough to scoop out valleys and create the mountains. Feet large enough to use the earth around us as a “footstool.” Wisdom deep enough to be found at the end of every honest soul’s search and be found as Truth. Breath powerful enough to bring immortality to mortal human beings. Love wide enough to stretch its arms out on an undeserving Cross so we wouldn’t have to.

“Blessed is the man who trusteth in Jehovah, and whose confidence Jehovah is: for he shall be like a tree . . . Which stretcheth forth its roots by the water source, so that it shall not fear when heat cometh, but its leaf shall be verdant; which is not uneasy in the year of drought.”(Spurrell.)

When I read this quote in an old, old devotional book of mine, those words seemed to parachute off the page and land in my heart. “Whose confidence Jehovah IS!” He’s not only the One we place our confidence IN — HE IS OUR CONFIDENCE!

We can march forward boldly to face a faith-filled future — for HE is our confidence! We place no confidence in the flesh, or any other source. We trust in the name of the Lord our God!

Faith-filled confidence — for He is worthy.

“O, Lord — remind us that You are our confidence. In the heat of the day, when fear zooms in — tempting to override faith — help us retain our faithful confidence — Jehovah Himself! We are yours!”

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Take it with You

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.“ Psalm 1 (NIV)



Livin' and Lovin'

Married. That was something I always aspired to be! Just as a young girl, mom gave me an old, white, lace tablecloth which served as my first “wedding gown.” One of those old, white, head scarves was my veil . . . And the hallway was the aisle! I couldn’t wait until my special day . . . And I wasn’t even thirteen yet!

It wasn’t too many years before God answered my dream. At age nineteen I found myself “floating on air” while “walking in white” down a REAL aisle, in a REAL wedding gown, to a REAL groom, and into REAL married life.

Life hasn’t been a “bed of roses” — although I have received some. Time for each other seems in constant demand — although we work at taking “dates” — even with five children! We don't always sing in unison — but allow our differences make for beautiful harmony.

Giving our marriage to God each day is the place we strive to start. It’s through the thick and thin of life the marriage becomes stronger. Loving when love isn’t easy. Holding on to Jesus and each other when you feel like letting go — allowing your grip to be sustained by Another.

God set up this beautiful thing called “marriage.” A vow, a commitment that had original intent of life-time love. One man, one woman, loving for one life-time.

M -motivation to continually become more like Christ

A—always consider your spouses needs first

R— ringing the wedding bells for a life time

R—resting your marriage in God every day

I—I love you — say it often

E—Encourage your spouse in their gifts

D—Dream together



If you are married, why don’t you take your spouses hand sometime this week and pray this prayer together:

“Dear Jesus,

We love you, and we love each other. We give our marriage to You. Would you please be the Lord of our lives, and the Lord of our marriage. Help us to love You with all that we are, and love each other as we should. Please place a protective hedge around our marriage, and our family. Make us a couple, and a family that brings You glory! We love you, Lord.

 In Jesus’ name, Amen”

Take it with You

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

Genesis 2:24

“And now abides faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.”

I Corinthians 13:13