Addictive Presence

“I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word. I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore, I hate every wrong path.” Psalm 119:101-104

The high that comes from being in the center of God’s will is better than a sugar rush. Although his words are like honey, they are an acquired taste. Our natural tendency is to run wild in the desperate search for immediate gratification. However, once we experience the joy and sweetness that comes from Divine approval we long to linger in his addictive presence. Lord, separation from you is bitter. Help me keep my feet on track and in step with your Spirit.

Easter Shoes

I look forward to Spring with great anticipation. Its approach signals the end of winter's drab colors and the entrance of longer days and blooming flowers. Spring is a season of transition. It is also a time for celebration of Christ's victory over death and his gift of eternal life.

When I was a child I relished the thought of chocolate bunnies, egg hunts and Easter baskets. But my Mother was focused on making sure we looked our best. When I asked her why, she would launch into a tidy little message based on Romans 6:4, "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that like Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

"New clothes," said she, "are symbols of Christ's resurrection, of his return from death to life. When we wear new clothes on Easter we honor what He did for us on the cross."

In my twelfth year, Easter shopping took on special significance when Mother announced I would be getting high heels. Shoe shopping seemed endless as we trudged through numerous stores. Finally the perfect pair of heels was purchased and Mother passed the shoes to me with these words of wisdom, "Remember, Carolyn, always walk in the newness of life."

With great excitement I wobbled into Sunday school that Easter Sunday morning wearing the cutest pair of white pumps trying to pretend I did not feel awkward or clumsy. As an awkward pre-teen, facing the transition from Elementary to Junior High, I had already encountered aptitude tests, career fairs, and peer pressure. At the ripe old age of twelve the serious side of life seemed to be intensifying, but the echo of my mother's wisdom continued to guide me, "Walk in newness of life." I had felt assured the Lord would be my guide as I navigated all of the transitions in my future. He would help me avoid the tyranny of self-preoccupation as well as helping me to experience the delight of walking with Him.

Many calendar pages have been turned since then, and with them numerous Easter outfits. Easter shoe shopping continues to be a perfect time to remind my children to "walk in the newness of life" so they will be prepared for life and its many transitions.

I need to get going. I promised to take the kids shoe shopping.

In His Steps,

Carolyn

Cinderella Slippers

For centuries, people have romanticized about a pair of magical shoes that would suddenly change them into someone brand new. Perhaps this odd attraction to shoes is why Cinderella continues to be one of the most popular and best loved fairytales of all time. Did you know there are over 700 versions of this ancient tale? Some claim the story originated @ 200 BC in China while others attribute it to Aesop while a slave in Egypt.

However, one of the oldest Cinderella stories, if not the oldest can be found within the pages of the Bible. It was penned by the Prophet Ezekiel. When Ezekiel was charged with the unenviable task of confronting Jerusalem with her detestable behavior he chose to do it in the form of an allegorical tale of a fallen Cinderella. Ezekiel 16 is a powerful story of the transforming love of the Great King, who sees a discarded infant child thrashing about in the bushes and despite her helpless state chooses to love her. In the same way that God chose a small and insignificant land to be his special possession. Ezekiel uses graphic language and strong visual images to paint a picture hopped would open their eyes to God’s great love. He wanted Jerusalem to identify with his Fallen Cinderella and return to the king. This month my web site In Step Living is featuring the audio version of Cinderella Slippers A fairytale re-mix of Ezekiel 16. www.instepliving.com

Resurection Egg Hunt

"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that like Christ was raised up

from the dead by the glory of the Father,

even so we also should walk in newness of life."

Romans 6:4

Years ago, my husband and I wrestled with the Easter Bunny and the secularization of Easter. We came to a wonderful solution that redeemed the holiday and the traditional egg hunt thanks to a story published by Focus on the Family. “What was in Jeremy’s Egg” By Ida Mae Kempel.

Ida Mae tells the story of Jeremy Forrester a twelve year old boy, born with a terminal illness. Jeremy's teacher, Doris Miller told the class the story of Jesus, and then to emphasize the idea of new life spring forth she gave each of them a large plastic Easter egg to fill with something that showed new life.

The next morning 19 children returned and placed their eggs in the basket on her desk. When it was time to open the eggs, Miss Miller found Jeremy’s egg empty, she laid it aside. Jeremy spoke up. “Miss, Miller, aren’t you going to talk about my egg?” She replied,” But Jeremy-your egg is empty!” He said softly,” But Jesus’ tomb was empty too.” Latter that year Jeremy died and his class placed 19 empty Easter eggs on his casket.

Jeremy’s story provided a wonderful lesson of Christ's victory over death and his gift of eternal life and saved countless hours of stuffing tiny high calorie candies, and useless, plastic toys items into plastic eggs. At the end of our egg hunt children select prizes from a prize table. Everybody wins; just like we all won when Jesus rose from the dead.

Christmas Walk of the Wise

"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” Mathew 2: 1-2

We can learn valuable lessons by following the steps of the wise men who encountered Christ that first Christmas. These sages, scholars of ancient Persia were powerful, educated, wealthy men who studied nature in search of divine revelation and guiding principles. They possessed knowledge of the natural world - animals, weather, and the stars.

Night after night, these stargazers studied the sky for fresh insight. When they discovered it they put their lives and fortunes on hold to seek him who was born King of the Jews. They were in for a bumpy ride despite the fact that their journey was clearly marked by ancient prophets and lit by "the star” that signaled his birth.

Foot sore and saddle weary they traveled hundreds of miles bouncing on camels envisioning a majestic reception for the prophesied King. For nearly two years, they journeyed with wind in their face and sand in their shoes. Finally, the exhausted caravan lumbered into Jerusalem and to their amazement, they found everyone oblivious to the star that guided them.

Their reception was unsettling. The wonderful news they brought disturbed the egomaniacal king King Herod. It was obvious to Sages trained in astute observation that Herod did not intend to worship the child.

Herod wasn't the only one that was troubled by the visit of the Magi. "All of Jerusalem was disturbed with him." (Matthew 2:3) Chief priests, scribes and local citizens feared Herod's rage, and with just cause. The first thirty years of Herod's reign were marked with rebellion and blood shed. The trembling chief priest and scribes searched the prophetic records, scrolls, and for information about the “blessed event.” They knew that the star heralded the birth of their long awaited king. They knew he was to be born in Bethlehem , eight miles away. But, they didn’t go.

They let fear and disbelief bind them. They could have been there. They could have seen Mary and the Christ Child. They could have worshiped him. But, they didn't. They played it safe.

The Magi sought truth and followed it regardless of the cost. Truth is costly, and gaining truth requires courage, patience and persistence. Truth also commands our response. We all must choose between denial or adjustment. Many post-moderns reflect their denial in such statements as, "truth is relative" and "to each his own”; while others wisely make a conscious choice to adjust their life's course, their attitude, their choices, their words and their energy investments.

It's easy to follow the footprints of the chief priests and scribes of Israel who stayed at home cowering in the darkness while the star shone brightly. They were captives of fear and disbelief. They could not muster enough strength, courage, or commitment to travel from Jerusalem to Bethlehem , a journey of eight miles. They thought playing it safe was wise. But, they were fools.

The wise men’s example made it easier to discern the difference between the walk of the wise and the way of the fool. The wise give thought to their steps (Proverbs 14:15) while the foolish are bound by fear and doubt. Persian non-believers traveled almost two years to see him who was born king of the Jews while the Jewish elite stayed home. Fear, disbelief and the demands of truth caused the Chief priests and scribes to lose their footing. The wise men were seekers of truth. Despite all odds, they kept their perspective, and when they found the One they searched for they worshiped him.

May the Lord, grant us wisdom for our path in 2008. May he add strength to our steps, endurance for the sand in our shoes, and courage to follow the star wherever it leads. May we be forever changed by the Truth!

Amen

Detour Ahead

The bold orange sign forced me to abandon the highway and take a roundabout route home. Detours confuse me and stress me out. Annoyed by the inconvenience, preferring the direct course of action, I found myself discouraged and depressed by the delay. Despite the fact that detours keep me from danger, flooded roads, washed out bridges, and hazardous road construction, they throw me for a loop leaving me lost and disoriented.

For months, I managed to navigate a series of delays, children, computer failures, and house hunting that constantly interrupted my speaking and writing goals. Even the ministry God gave me seemed to carry me farther from the goal.

Frustrated and depressed by the delay, I found solace in the contents of my refrigerator. That is until the Apostle Paul himself reassured me that God speaks through detours and delays. The detours Paul faced helped me appreciate the delays I am experiencing.

In Acts chapter 16, Paul encountered several delays and detours. When Paul desired to conduct a mission into Asia Minor, the Holy Spirit stopped him at every turn. A journey to Asia Minor was very dangerous. The roadways were treacherous and full of highway robbers. Also, growing opposition to the gospel message threatened Paul’s every step. Could it be that the Spirit thwarted his plans and pushed him on towards Troas for his own protection?

In Troas, God opened a door for Paul to carry the Gospel into Europe by means of a vision. Paul had a dream of a man from Macedonia saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Paul had no intention of going into Europe, yet that is exactly where God wanted him.

Another unexpected detour to a Roman jail prevented Paul from his planned visit to Philippi . It provided him the opportunity to write the Prison Epistles that changed the world. God used open and closed doors, persecutions and prisons to direct Paul.

“Divine Detours” help us achieve our goals and arrive safely at our destination. Although the last few months have seemed to carry me farther from my goals, I know God has the path laid out. He will bring me safely to the desired destination. Hopefully without any prison or hospital stays.

While “Divine Detours” are delightfully empowering, detours of my own making are merely diverting side trips, wonderings, and endless trips to my refrigerator that will carry me far from the course he lay.

Follow the Leader?

Fourteen antsy clowns stood in the parade line up. This was our first parade. I waited in line to sign in. Finally, the parade master placed us in the sixth slot directly behind a high school marching band. I smiled and asked, “Exactly where are we going? I am not familiar with the parade route."

“Just follow the band in front of you,” replied the parade master.

“‘Follow the Leader.’ That’s a game I can play!” Moments later I returned to our group. As the parade began, Gilbert asked, “Where are we going?” Pointing ahead at the band already resounding their first piece of music I shouted, “Follow the Leader!”

We marched down Main Street performing clown antics, always keeping in step with the marching band. Unknown to us, the band planned to avoid after parade traffic and leave a little early. So one block past the judge’s stand, they left the designated route and headed to their bus…

As we faithfully followed the marching band, we led an entourage down a side street including four antique tractors, a vintage car carrying a beauty queen and a troop of boy scouts. It seemed that every parade entry received the same instruction to, “Follow the Leader.”

To our surprise, the marching band doubled their pace when they realized that the entire parade followed them down the wrong route. Suddenly, we were leading the parade!

As Christians we are instructed to “Follow the Leader.” Jesus said, “Follow me.” Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” My parade experience taught me that when you play follow the leader, it’s wise to make sure the leader knows where he is going – or you could end up following a bunch of clowns!