Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Footprints

    Where God's presence abides—so too, does the sweet fragrance of Christ linger.

I was looking through an old journal yesterday and came across some poetry that my wife had written in my book in 2007. My wife does not consider her writing poetry, but rather, song lyrics.

You see, she has this amazing relationship with Christ where she spends intimate time reading His Word and talking to Him, and He gives her these incredible, spontaneous songs as part of her worship to Him.

They are love letters to Her Savior.

When I thought of how happy I was that she wrote a couple of her sweet little songs in my journal, I couldn't get over how blessed I was that I still have them here in my little book. I will always have them. They are a part of her. And she is a part of me.

But something greater was unfolding in what God was speaking to my heart about these sweet songs, and the fact that she wrote them down for me. These little jewels were His footprints—traces of His presence in our lives.

Think of all the amazing things that have happened to you since you first knew Jesus.

Think of all the wonderful people you have come to know and be friends with. Think of the many blessings and provision God has bestowed upon you. Think of all the many times when He encouraged you when you were hurting, when He lifted you up when you were weak and when He gave you His peace when nothing in your life made sense.

Think of all the times when you were without hope and you cried out to Him and He met you in your time of need.

Think of those precious times when His presence changed everything.

All these wonderful blessings, people, provision, and peace from His presence are footprints in the sand of your life. They are traces of His presence.

My wife is also a Sunday school teacher for the 4 year old's at our church. She loves these little lambs like they were own. I have seen her get home from work at 9:30 on a Saturday evening, and then stay up past midnight making sure her lesson is just right, and she makes these incredible crafts that she joyfully creates out of pure love for these children—and for her Savior, Jesus.

I told her last night that every little encouragement she gives these children, every creative craft she creates for them in love, every smile that she gives these precious little lambs—are God's footprints—evidence of His presence in her life. In our house we call it "fruitiness."

The same is true in your life.

Every hug you give to a person who is hurting, every hour you spend with a friend who is feeling hopeless, every phone call you make to reach out to someone who feels alone, every prayer you pray for someone who needs God's love—these are God's footprints in the sand of your life.

Evidence of His presence.

The secret to experiencing God's presence the way that my wife does is spending intimate time with Him.

When you spend quality time time loving Jesus, talking to Him, reading His Word, listening for His gentle voice—the goodness of His presence in you—rivers of living water—will overflow out of your life, and touch others with His love.

There is nothing more beautiful.

Jesus said:
"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." (John 7:38)

The reason I started this blog, and why I continue to write to this day, is I love to share what God has done, and what He is doing in our lives. My hope and prayer has always been that by sharing my stories of God's blessings and grace that He has touched us with, that others will be encouraged and lifted up, and ultimately—they will see the goodness and faithfulness of God and draw near to Him.

Looking back and seeing His footprints throughout my life with Him, I thank Jesus for walking with me—carrying me when I could go no further—and continuously blessing me with the evidence of His presence.

God's footprints reveal the times of His presence with us personally.

And I especially thank Him for blessing me with my wife, who brings His sweetness and sun shine into my life every day.

    —Where God's presence abides—so too, does the sweet fragrance of Christ linger.

God is Love, and Love Never Fails.

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