Washing the Feet of the Saints

"After the service a man met me at the door and asked if he could wash my feet. He he had a shopping bag in his hand with water bottles and towels. I tried to get out of it by telling him that the fact that he asked was enough to refresh me and wash my feet in a figurative sense. He persisted. Finally I said that if he washed my feet I would have to wash his feet. He agreed. I told him to wait until I greeted everyone as they left and he took a seat on a nearby bench. After greeting everyone he came over and I looked around for an appropriate place. One of our ushers suggested the fountain and we decided it was a good place to go so we walked over. When I asked him his name he dodged for a while but finally told me his name. He is the brother of two girls who were heavily involved in the youth ministry. At the fountain he got all the towels and water set up and I sat and took off my shoes and socks and rolled up my pant legs. He even had a bar of soap, Irish Spring. While he washed my feet he spoke of how he was starting on a new road of total obedience to the Lord. He didn’t know who was preaching but knew that God had told him to ask the minister today if he could wash their feet. After he finished he put his hand on my shoulder and prayed for me. We switched places and I started to wash his feet. While I did I told him of how Christ had set the example for us and the significance of Jesus taking our dirt on Himself. Jesus even washed the feet of Judas. When I finished I prayed for him and we walked back together."

A year later after I wrote this it still impacts me. Our obedience is noticed and impacts others. It is unusual acts like this that show our hearts. 

We recently had a missions conference at our church that hosted delegates from all over the world. At the conference we held meetings, had lunches and dinners and created an atmosphere for connections to happen among the men and women who were reaching people for the Lord in the nations. After three days we had worked hard and long hours and were spent in the best way possible. The neat thing is that I felt like we had washed their feet. Not physically but in a figurative sense. 

When you take care of others and serve them as you would the Lord I believe it is a humbling expression that God sees and His pleasure is on. He says in His word that when we have done it to the least of these we have done it to Him. Our expressions of service are precious to the Lord. 

Have you ever had your feet washed or had someone wash your feet. How did that experience effect you? 

Day 94 - Delivering the Mail

"I went off to work and studied for this weekend. I didn't get the message I thought I would but it is because the Word is speaking and not me. I can only speak what He speaks and not my own."

Jesus left us an example of true humility and meekness. He spoke and did only what He heard and saw the Father doing. We would do well if we followed that example. 

It takes attention to focus on what we see and hear from God. We must look away from the world and self to look up to God. We need a listening ear and a seeing eye. We need an undivided heart and undistracted gaze. 

Think of what life would be like if we lived this way. How many wrong decisions would we avoid? How many people would we touch with God's love? 

Day 59 - Pistachio or Banana?

"I got Pistachio ice cream and it tasted like banana. One of the girls in the store also had Pistachio and heard us talking about bananas and confirmed that hers tasted like it too. The clerk at the counter went to the jar of pudding mix they use for it and smelled the powder and sure enough it was banana. It was good but seemed funny to think about."

Everything about that ice cream made me want to think that it was pistachio. It was green, it had chopped pistachio nuts on top of it. The clerk pulled out the jar with the boxes of pudding mix they used to flavor the ice cream and they all said pistachio. The one thing that was most important was not there...the flavor. 

I was so happy that I wasn't crazy. The guy who mixed the ice cream had to pull the mix out and smell it to be convinced. I knew something was wrong. 

It reminds me of the time someone made me some enchiladas and instead of vegetable oil they used blood orange flavored oil. As I was eating I remarked that there was a strong citrus flavor. The cook had a good laugh and complimented my taste buds. They had ran out of regular oil and thought they could sneak by with the blood orange. 

If we know the truth then when a counterfeit comes along we will know the taste is off. We need to sharpen our spiritual senses to be so in tune with God that the devil tries to switch the flavor we will be prepared to catch him and cast him out. Deception is tricky because it is deceptive. That is why it is important to stick with truth. No matter what package a lie comes in you won't be fooled by it. 

How can we sharpen our spiritual senses? How does knowing truth help you spot the lie? 

Day 13 - Legacy

"I gave my son my Bible from when I was a kid. It was neat to see how my mom had dated it from 1985. Almost 30 years later here I am handing it to my son. He was so excited and wanted to have me read from it tonight. What a treasure to pass on the same Bible that I remember going through and looking at all the pictures placed throughout the pages. Maybe it was those pictures and stories that gave me such a love of the Bible early on. That and my parents prayers and example for sure."

It is so important as parents to connect with our children as much as we can. Often my children will ask me what my childhood was like. I realize that they want to relate with me. With as much responsibility as I have and the demands that come with life and ministry I try to get time every day to connect with my children and show them love. Some days it is quantity, all days I go for quality.

My brother-in-law recently preached about love. More specifically how we can show love. He made the statement that we can show love because we have received the love of God. It is so true. How could I show my children love if I had never been loved? My parents have been examples of godliness and have influenced me to be a better person and Christian. I know they pray for me. They have left a legacy that I am now giving to my children.

Even if you didn't have great parents or if you don't have children you can leave a legacy. People are always watching. You have influence! God made you for this time and placed you where you are for a purpose. Your Heavenly Father has loved you and given you everything you need to impact earth and eternity!

Do you have anything your parents gave you (physically or through example) that you want to pass on to your children? What kind of legacy are you building?