Footprints

I'm selling houses y'all. I'm just sayin.

Today after I finished my bible study and then my prayer journal, I spent some time asking God to awaken me to verses that would speak to me. He sent me to Psalm 77 first. At first I was discouraged. The psalmist was really wondering where in the heck God was in his distress. I have certainly been there before, and I may find myself there again some day. I mean, really, where is God when you witness orphans being neglected, refused medical care, and starving? And where is God when your boyfriend dies in a car crash? And where is God when your best friend betrays you? And where is God when your perfect new sweet baby has a very imperfect diagnosis? And where is God when the creditors are calling? Don't we all wonder this sometimes? This psalmist was going through distress and wondered the same? Chapter 77 is full of doubt and pain.

v.7-9 "Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger witheld his compassion?"

See, the psalmist had a lot of questions too. But then that psalmist gets a fire in his spirit and he thinks to remember about all the things God HAD done. In fact, he purposefully begins to recall and give deep thought to the years that God exercised great power and authority by performing miraculous wonders that were witnessed by many. The psalmist vows to "remember your miracles of long ago". I love verse 19. "Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen." He is speaking of the parting of the Red Sea. His beloved Israelites were permitted a miraculous crossing out of Egypt, without fear of drowning. Without fear of drifting off to the wrong place. God, with His incredible power and His great intention, parted the sea. After they crossed, their enemy was gaining on them, until God allowed the sea to clash back atop the enemy where their journey would end right there, in defeat. Mission accomplished. (hint hint...God's mission is always accomplished.)

God parted the Red Sea, but His footprints were not seen. But His footprints were not needed for evidence. He was faithful. He parted the sea. Who needs footprints for proof? I guess, often we do.

I bet that the earth the Israelites walked on while the waters were writing on edge was muddy earth. I bet the Israelites left thousands and thousands of footprints. Their footprints were left by faith and obedience.

There are times when I believe we sense God so strongly that we cannot deny His presence. We're not even looking for His footprints because we see Him. Other times, we just have to turn around and reflect on our journey and see our own footprints, knowing that it was Him who cleared our path.

I love Him for that. He made the way for the Israelites out of their desert, and He makes a way for us out of ours. Oh mercy!

In Luke Chapter 1 it says about God's mercy (verses 78 - 79) "because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace."

My sweet Father sent me to some other verses. I'll share more tomorrow.

Truck Update: ***I know that many of you are waiting for a truck update, and I'm sorry I haven't mentioned it much lately. I received a donation today for $50 from some friends in my neighborhood! THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!!!!!!!

I have noted every single donation here on my blog, so you are not missing any information. :) The only thing you don't know is how much Joe and I are giving, but that is because we are not sure. We know for sure that $1,000 from my upcoming closing will go toward the truck....plus the other donations we've been thankful to be making along the way. But maybe more. Quite possibly more. Almost definitely, more. Why? Because I don't think that tug from the spirit is going to let up any. And that's cool. Joe and I could use another great adventure. A fresh leap of faith might just be the ticket.