Walking In Daddy's Shoes

When we were little we always tried to walk in our parent’s shoes. We’ve all seen those pictures of those little feet in those big shoes. We could never dream that we would ever be able to fill those shoes.
(this is my niece Alyssa in her Grandy's boots)
Today is the 2 month anniversary of my Daddy’s homegoing and I was just thinking of the big spiritual shoes he left to fill. My mom gave me a pair of his boots that I have sitting in my bedroom and each time I walk by them I am reminded of the big shoes that I have to fill. I am not sure I ever will, but it does keep me humble and give me something to aim for.

My father was one of the most spiritual men that I have ever known. He loved his God with every fiber of his being and found no greater joy than when he was able to share His Word with others, or just sit and talk to you one on one about a passage that He had read and what it meant to him. We had some great conversations and some great prayer time together. Others may talk to their dads about politics or sports or the weather, but our talks were mostly spiritual and had to do with what God was doing in our lives. What a blessing that was and how I miss those times!

So today in his honor, I wrote this poem:

Walking In Daddy’s Shoes

My sweet Daddy you left such big shoes to fill
When it comes to being a Christian you were the real deal.
Loving your heavenly Father with all of your heart
Pouring His love out on me right from the start.

There has been that saying “what would Jesus do?”
To watch you would give me a very good clue?
You loved God’s Word, studied it through and through
My best memories are talking about His Word and praying with you.

I can only hope that one day my heart will be pure like yours,
I want to resist Satan, his temptations and his lures.
I want to be kindhearted, compassionate with grace flowing deep,
Like you I want no unkind word from my lips ever to seep.

I want to love Steve with the love you had for mother,
To be faithful to him always with a love for no other.
Watching you love made me always believe,
If I prayed and I waited I too would receive.

I want to live my life in a way that other’s will say
Her daddy must be proud when he looks down on her today,
Her love for her Heavenly Father is obviously real
In part from those big shoes her earthy father left her to fill.

I love you Daddy with all of my heart,
So sad that God's plan was for us to part.
But I know where you are and where I will be
And yearn for the day when you again I will see.

Joy

In Ladies Bible Class we are studying Beth Moore's study "Stepping Up" on the Psalms of ascent. Today's lesson was on the Feast of Tabernacles and what a time of rejoicing that was for the children of Israel. Beth was so very excited to share the things that the Lord had taught her. She made this comment "sometimes I am so full of joy, I think my face will explode and skin will be plastered to the wall" I thought to myself "When have I ever been that full of joy"? When have I ever been so excited about what God has told me in His Word or has whispered in my ear that I was so full of joy it just spilled on anyone that came my way? Better question is "what is it that holds me back"? I am praying that my heart will be transformed into the heart of the Psalmist in Psalms 145:

1 I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation commends your works to another;
they tell of your mighty acts.
5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.[b]
6 They tell of the power of your awesome works—
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
7 They celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.
9 The LORD is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.
10 All your works praise you, LORD;
your faithful people extol you.
11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,
12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises
and faithful in all he does.
14 The LORD upholds all who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
16 You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and faithful in all he does.
18 The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.
20 The LORD watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.
Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever.

Giving Thanks

I don't know about you but I am so guilty of getting caught in all the trappings of the holidays, that I actually spend very little time thinking about the true meaning of the holidays. The last few years I have done better about actually celebrating my Jesus at Christmas, but this year I thought perhaps I needed to do more to embrace Thanksgiving. Thanks to Facebook, lots of people have been posting what they are thankful for, so I thought I would just brainstorm here and see how many things I could come up with in ten minutes??

1. I am thankful for a God who loves me unconditionally.
2. I am thankful that I am a recipient of every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus.
3. I am thankful for the home that is awaiting me.
2. I am thankful for a husband who loves that God and therefore loves me
unconditionally
3. I am thankful for a father who is now with my God and for all the love he
poured out on me.
4. I am thankful for a mother who chooses to continue to trust God and allow Him to
be her God of all comfort.
5. I am thankful for a mother who instilled faith into my heart and showed me who
God is. I am thankful that she and I can pray together and study the Word
together.
6. I am thankful for family that keeps life interesting.
7. I am thankful for the myriad of friends God has blessed me with who make this
life journey so much fuller.
8. I am thankful for the gifts and abilities God has blessed me with that allow me
to participate in ministry.
9. I am thankful for the physical blessings God has given me: a home, food,
clothes, cars and a computer to blog with :-)
10. I am thankful for the beauty of this earth, especially now what I see everyday
in Colorado
11. I am thankful for our new small group.
12. I am thankful for my old small group.
13. I am thankful for men and women of God who have the gift of writing that help me
grow deeper in my faith
14. I am thankful for the doctors God has used to give me healing
15. I am thankful for the drugs which help me be able to function in my pain.
16. I am thankful for those that have the gift of music and how their music and
lyrics bless my soul.
17. I am thankful for Facebook and being able to stay in touch and be back in touch
with those who no longer live near

So that is it for 10 minutes. I am sure there is so much more. Perhaps I should have just said I would see how long I could go. Now the real test is not to just use ten minutes to make a list, but to recognize the things that are around me every minute of every day to be thankful for. And while I am at it....thanks to those of you who still take the time to drop by and read these words....you keep me humble.

May you all have a wonderful season of Thanksgiving.