Beautiful Feet

Isaiah 52:7 “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring Good News.”

I must tell you about a little girl named Zoe.  I met her while on a mission trip to an orphanage in Jamaica.  Zoe is a spunky active little girl who lives at the orphanage and goes to kindergarten just like any other child.  But life for Zoe, like most children I met, had a most unpleasant start.  Upon arrival to the children’s home as an infant, Zoe was completely worn out and exhausted from screaming and crying with no one attending to her helpless attempts for rescue so much, that pollups formed on her vocal cords and to this day she talks in a very hoarse and raspy tone.  The story is told that Zoe, unlike most infants, who are still curled up from being in their mother’s womb and snuggled in blankets, was limp and lifeless with limbs open upon arrival to the orphanage; silent and without a voice.  The staff had to tightly swaddle her and hold her close to them for her to be able to begin to learn attachment, bonding, and to “bring her back to life”.  Thank goodness for the love and care that she has been given over her tender years and although very needy Zoe is an active, lively, and thriving child.  I had the honor to meet Zoe in a very special way while at the Robin's Nest. I was sitting in a wooden rocking chair the first morning of our trip drinking a cup of coffee and taking in all the busy activities of the morning as the children were getting off to school.  Still completely overwhelmed emotionally by the entire situation of last nights drive up the steep mountain in a terrain of pot holes and partially paved roads inside the lavish tropical landscape while riding in an overpopulated jalopy of a van, to this little “city on a hill” orphanage. The shock of hitting the ground running  upon arrival- feeding and holding babies, changing diapers, reading devotions & praying with girls, and acting as a human jungle gym, not to mention a giant community Kleenex for many noses. Needless to say the familiar taste and inviting smell of coffee was very welcoming as I tightly held the mug and sat quietly anticipating how the day would unfold.  I did not know what to expect from this mission trip. I went with only an open mind to go and step into whatever God had waiting for me.  What was waiting was more than I could have ever dreamed, hoped, or imagined. 

Quietly, without a word or even eye contact little Zoe knelt down in front of me that sunny morning and began gently wiping my feet with a damp white cloth. The room came to a hush as the chaos echoed distantly while I sat in the rocking chair with the most humbling and indescribable feeling in my soul.  I came to serve. I came to be the beautiful feet to bring the good news up this mountain to the little ones, and here she was, this precious orphan child tenderly wiping my feet.  What seemed like forever was probably under a minute while she continued washing my feet very diligently with her little white cloth as tears rolled down my cheeks.  Zoe did not know me.  Zoe did not know that I was going to this place to get out of myself and the brokenness of my own life as a step of healing.  Zoe didn't know that I too had been in a season of feeling lifeless, limbs open, and numb to the devastation of a personal blow to my heart. Zoe did not know that the grieving of my soul had left me spiritually hoarse; worn out and exhausted from my crying attempts of rescue. No Zoe did not know but rescue came so specifically in that time because you see Zoe and I have one strong thing in common- we have the same Father and he knew.  I came to serve in this place and here I was being served humbly and graciously by this little princess of the Most High God.  In those moments my white skin and her black skin faded.  In those moments my comfortable wealthy western culture lifestyle and her poverty melted.  Yes there in those moments the ground at the foot of the cross was level.  No greater no less.  We were both the least of these.  Those moments changed me eternally forever.

Soon Zoe rose from her serving position, she did not look at me only jumped up and pranced away and jumped into the chaos and excitement of the morning with all the other children and merrily went off to school.  I really had to get alone with God to even be able to process the events of those moments.  And as I did God spoke this truth to my heart, “You are no different than my beloved Zoe, you are the same and your meager attempts to serve and love me are just as pleasurable and pleasing to me as little Zoe, who I am so fond of, washing your feet, all beautiful in my sight.” 

The next morning I had a divine appointment to play with and love on Zoe.  We never spoke of that intimate eternal moment when she sat at my feet but we giggled,  cuddled, and swung without care on the swing set.

Did you know that Zoe means life?  

Thank you Zoe for being like Jesus and bringing life to my soul.  You are such a precious little princess, I will forever hold a serious affection for how beautiful, like Jesus, you are!

Is God calling you out?

Out of your normal?

Out of your predictable?

Out of your comfortable?

Is God asking you to do something crazy with his love?

Are you in need of overcoming! -I encourage and challenge to find healing in loving and serving others!

He is calling you!  Serve - Go...Go!

Today where you are, you will be forever changed and you will realize the walls fall down as the Savior's love convinces us through serving by the power of his Holy Spirit that we are all the least of these.....

Before you Cross the Line

Some thoughts have been dancing around in my head
they come and go and I leave them unsaid
but as I sit here in the quiet of this hour
I wonder if these thoughts could have a greater power.
To minister, heal and be a light in the dark
To capture even the most stubborn of heart
The words to come upon this page may seem to some to be said out of hate
Angry, fear, sadness and grief
But know my friend I only write to bring relief
A clarity perhaps into confusion
Where it is unveiled the road that you've considered choosing
I've chose it too
I 've dreamed of living in the gray
And even lived it out I'm so sorry to say
Felt the effects of others living it out too
The gray of someone fleeing away
That was once held dear and so close inside
But true love in Christ must not hide
Cover up
Mask or give a haughty impress
Bring your ear close friend and give a listen
not to the tragedy that I've faced
But to truth and consequences
that I thought would steal grace
From the precious ones I hold so dear and to my own shaking spirit drenched in fear
so today dear soul as she slowly combs her fingers through her hair and ties you in with her glances and stares
And his conversation sweet as honey
please listen friend
This sorrowful message that I now send.
It starts with a glance a look a wavering thought and for many a reason it lingers on the secret dark and hidden away grows more the lust day after day until the telling moment when you break the bond you made to your best friend and cross the line you swore never to
You've climbed the fence and sat on its edge
the pain of sitting in the middle of gray you could not do for one more day
Of living fake and living double
You crossed the line not thinking of the trouble
The ripple effect; the truth of consequence
Who are you now
do you have a defense
The looks the glances the innocent words are now all gone it has all taken a turn for the worst
But worst right now it might not seem
 maybe a relief to you it will bring
but only for a season
and for the most shallow of all reasons
You justify mull and preach to yourself in your head
as the you you once were lies silent and dead
its captured and gagged and locked tight away
You are now the new you where you feel a new day
the grass seems greener
day seems clear
But oh friend here me it is drawing so near
where the you locked away must come out
You will find it bit by bit starting with a whisper and slowly growing to a shout
You will see it first in your bank account
That leaves you in a negative state as it unfolds it will be a most unfortunate of fates
that is only the surface friend
the you inside is begging to see the falseness that lust made you to be
And pride its most truest companion of all
They say it comes before the fall
fall you did in their little eyes
so innocent as you take a look in their grief stricken skies
The battle they suffer because of your sin
Is hurting them even deeper within
Where they question God and all that they once held true
of family and fun and the hero they saw in you
The pain if you look is the most frightening to the heart
when all that was safe if torn apart,
So if you are there friend, with lust whispering in your ear
And the security of pride taking hold of you
Flee
Run as fast as you can
Do not look back even for a glance
I promise you friend take this bold and daring chance
be vulnerable in the confession state
Do it now you must
do not wait
Their eyes have not yet cried those horrific tears
you have not yet heard the silence where there was once peace and love
Friend turn and run
If my friend you are sitting on the fence teetering back and forth to and fro
On a black and gray see saw controlling your soul
take a step back
stop teetering on the fence
you can still return you can still live right
Turn around
Get off
Do not hide
Light will shine forth on you
Tend your garden
Make it fresh and renewed
Water the flowers let their roots grow deep
the produce of joy you will soon reap
And peace like a river
Will flow strongly through you
connecting to the source
of who delivers you
And reconciles you again to his son
 live in your garden my friend
Spring has sprung
 new life is waiting
 the fantasy was a farce
a cheap deceiving counterfeit lie
from the pit of hell
do not deny
Its roots are shallow
its reality was fake
Look in front of you and see
 be alive
be awake
live in your moments with the people who love you
commit
and recommit
to the life given to you