Walking with the Lord

Footprints 
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 belonged 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 were only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at he 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 precious, 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 I carried you."

Written by: Carolyn Joyce Carty

I am posting the poem "Footprints" in honor of my sweet sister, April and her precious baby, Delaney Brianne, who is now in the arms of our Saviour. As our family walks through this valley of loss and grief, I am comforted as the Lord reminds me He is always with us, and during our greatest pain and suffering... He carries us.

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:8

Resurrection Cookies

A great family activity to prepare little hearts (as well as mom's) for the Resurrection Day of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus!

Resurrection Cookie Recipe
Making cookies with your children to teach the true meaning of Easter!
You will need:
1 cup of whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
a pinch of salt
1 cup of sugar
plastic baggie
tape
Bible
Cookie instructions:
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees (this is important ~ don't wait!)
1. Place the pecans in the plastic baggie and let the kids beat them with the wooden spoon to break them in pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
~ Read John 19:1-3
2. Put the vinegar into a mixing bowl. Let each child smell the vinegar. Explain that when Jesus was on the cross and He became thirsty, He was offered vinegar to drink.
~ Read John 19:28-30
3. Add the egg whites to the vinegar. The eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life so that we could have life.
~ Read John 10:10-11
4. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand and let them taste it. Put the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.
~ Read Luke 23:27
5. So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing! Add 1 cup of sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.
~ Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16
6. Beat the egg whites with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes, until stiff peaks form. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.
~ Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3
7. Fold in the broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto a cookie sheet covered with wax paper. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid to rest.
~ Read Matthew 27:57-60
8. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.
9. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the door. Explain that tomb of Jesus was sealed.
~ Read Matthew 27:65-66
10. Go to bed. Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight and that the followers of Jesus were in despair when the tomb was sealed.
Read John 16:20-22
11. On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find His tomb empty.
~ Read Matthew 28:1-9
Recipe by: Wanda Long

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14

Wired for Worship

I believe we are wired for worship. God created us that way! My heart, my passion, my praise should belong to Him! We are called to love Him with all of hearts, souls, mind and strength (Mark 12:28). Yet, how many times do I let other things take precedence over God? If I'm not careful, I place other things before Him. I become tempted ~chasing after things of the world. I become distracted. Apathetic. Selfish.
I don't want to be a fence-rider. I don't want substitutes. I want to be completely, utterly, unashamedly surrendered and abandoned to my Saviour. Let the words of my mouth adore Him! Let my hands be uplifted in prayer and thanksgiving with a heart devoted to God!

You formed us from the dust
You breathed your breath in us
We are the work of your hands
Now we breathe back to You
Love songs of gratitude
Adoring You with all we have
We were created
To worship Your name
We were created
to bring You our praise
If we don't worship You
We'll search for substitutes
To fill the void in our souls
Worshipping other things
Destroys our liberty
But as we praise You we are free
'Cause we were created
To worship Your name
We were created to bring You our praise
So we will worship, so we will praise
You our Creator, for all of our days
This is what we were made to do
This is what we were made to do
So we lift up our praise to You

Written by: Vicky Beeching/ Yesterday, Today & Forever

Rock-a My Soul

I love our Lord. And I really like my rocking chairs. Did I mention that I am fairly passionate about my porch and a cup of hot coffee, too? Of course my love for God is paramount, but I love the way they all come together on a morning like this one. I can be so Martha. I have good intentions, but I can get so wrapped up in doing things, and going places and checking off my "to do" list that I let go of His hand and run impulsively down the path without Him! It's times like this that I get overwhelmed, worried, discouraged... And then there are times like this morning that I can be more like Mary. I take the time sit at His feet and be captivated by His love, His mercies, His beauty and His grace. As I rock in my chair and take the time to draw near to Him, I am ushered into His glorious presence. When I fix my eyes upon Him and purpose in my heart to spend time with Him, my heart is transformed. It is only when I stop looking inward and look to Him that my soul is free. The anxiety and depression flees and His grace abounds. Why would I ever allow my heart to be so fickle, so impulsive? Why do I let myself wander so far from Him when it is so wondrous to walk with Him? I am so grateful our Lord is unchanging ~ the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. I am so glad He meets me on my porch and doesn't ask me where I have been. He just loves me.