Wet Feet

Last night, I went to bed with many thoughts on mind about the agenda for today. This morning I was awakened by a very loud rainstorm at 3 o'clock. Suddenly, all of the thoughts from the night before rushed back to my mind and I was unable to go back to sleep. At 4 o'clock I decided to go ahead and start my day since I had a men's Bible study at 6. I spent some time in the Bible and prayer and began my routine to leave. When I walked out, the rain was coming down hard and the porch light was quickly blocked out as I made it to my driveway. It had been raining hard and long and many puddles had accumulated in my gravel driveway. Some were very deep, shoe top deep. Yes, that's right. I tested the depth of the puddles with my feet. I looked like a cat with wet feet as I was shaking the water off.

When I made it to my Uprising group comprised of four other men, I began to complain about the rain this morning and the wet feet I had received as a result of it. During the opening prayer, one of my friends thanked the Lord for even my wet feet. It quickly dawned on me how ungrateful I am. Even though my feet were wet, they had carried me from my bed to the shower. My feet carried me through the rain and drove me to town. My feet then carried me into the church where I would meet with one man slightly older than I, one slightly younger than I and two young men that are seniors in high school; my friends, my prayer partners, and the ones that hold me accountable to love the Lord and love others. I then realized, my wet feet would provide the means to do the work the Lord has called me to do and that is to preach the goods news of a Savior whose feet carried Him to a cross where they would be nailed along with His hands for my sins and yours. When I thought about that....I could no longer complain that my feet were wet.

I am thankful today for all things. Even wet feet. May they lead me down the path of righteousness.

Where will your feet take you?

"The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord.
He delights in every detail of their lives."
Psalm 37:23 NLT

Hard to Stand

Today is the National See You At The Pole for students. This is an annual event that has been initiated to be a student-led prayer gathering at the flag pole of their school. Today as I went to the local middle school to meet at 7:30, I found that the teachers had organized a gathering at 7:15. However, many students were still arriving at 7:45. I saw something very unique as the three students that came to meet with me tried to encourage peers to join with them. Each peer would either pretend they did not see or hear them, or dodge the invitation with a "gotta do something" or "I'll be right back". But never the less, there were three of whom I was very proud. I am always proud of students that will take a stand for Christ but especially for those who are standing in the small group.

I shared Matthew 18:20 with them which reads in the NLT, "For Where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am there among them." These three lifted their voices to the Lord and asked that their peers be saved! Wow! How many times do we adults join in small gatherings in front of crowds of onlookers and pray that our friends be saved?

Verse 19 of Matthew 18 tells us "If two of you agree down here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you." These three prayed the same thing. They "agreed" with one another desiring their friends be saved.

The church is not changing. We meet at "safe" times, in "safe" places. It is safe to go to church on Sunday morning when all the churchy people go. We have always been told there is safety in numbers. But Christ has not called us as a group, He has called us an individuals and that is how we must stand for Him.

Why plan a prayer meeting that meets early before everyone arrives? Why plan a worship service when and where it will not be offensive to anyone? Why do we as Christians desire to be "bold" in secret? In Christ there is power. Stand with the few in plain sight. That is boldness.

Don't run away when no one is chasing you. Proverbs 28:1 ".....but the righteous are as bold as a lion."

Be bold....stand when there are only a few to stand with you!