Beautiful Feet

I'm not sure why I have all these thoughts come rushing at me during exercise but for whatever reason here is another thought that came out of my Yoga class. If you are familiar with Yoga you know most people do that barefoot or if you are really into it you buy those expensive Yoga toe socks so you can get a better grip on those balance poses. Since most of us are barefoot and the class was full today, I happen to notice some feet. The interesting thing was they were not pretty feet at all. In fact,I observed some unattractive feet (I won't give you a vivid description of why). Now I have never thought my feet were pretty but I was feeling ok today in comparison.

As usual the Lord doesn't look at things the way we do. In Isaiah it says "His thoughts are higher than our thoughts." He proved that once again today as He reminded me of what He considers beautiful feet. Romans 10:15 says, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tiding of good things." Actually, Paul was quoting a scripture from Isaiah 52:7, "How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, "Your God Reigns!"

If we wanted to enter a beautiful feet contest we would think of feet that are narrow, have well proportioned toes, uncallaused heels and well manicured nails. Not so with God. He looks for feet that delivered good news to people, feet that brought peace, brought news of happiness and talked about salvation and encouraged people by reminding them that God is still on the throne and reigns forever.

Humm...I might be due for a heavenly pedicure!

Lasting Treasure or Ash Heap

Yesterday I worked at my old office for the day. I was helping purge old records and materials. We cleaned out 4 filing cabinets and threw away tons of paper. I had the oddest feeling as I was going through the papers. Most of them were things that had been done while I was in that job. I told my replacement that I felt like I was throwing away 6 years of work. No one but me really knew how much time, energy (both physical and mental!) and thought had gone into each of those pieces of paper. Six years of hard work just thrown in a trash can in a matter of a few hours!

Today I talked with a friend whose college aged son is suffering from severe depression and has tried to end his life. I also talked with someone recently who related a story of how a relative worked hard, got a doctorate and was very successful in their field but when they reached 60 realized they had given up and missed so much of life while they pursued something that felt empty at the end.

With all those thoughts swirling in my head, the Holy Spirit brought to my mind several verses.

Luke 12:16-31 Jesus was telling the parable about the rich man who has so much he decides to build bigger barns to keep all his stuff. He says the Lord called the rich man a fool and said you will die tonight and who is going to get all your stuff? I love the New Living Translation of verse 21, ""Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God."

Mark 8:36 - "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?"

Matt. 6:19 - "Do not lay up treasures for yourself on earth where moth and rust corrupt....but lay up treasure for yourself in heaven where neither moth or rust corrupt... for where your treasure is there your heart will be also.

John 15:6 - If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.

I want my life to count for more than pieces of paper that will be shredded and burned up. I want to be laying up treasures in heaven that make me rich toward God. I heard a great sermon this week that is great food for thought as I attempt to lay up treasures in heaven. If you are young and just getting started in a career this would be a great sermon for you. The sermon was the first in a series started at Church of the Highlands in Birmingham called "From Here to There." The guest pastor who started the series asked everyone to consider two questions, 1. What makes you righteously angry (that's where your passion is) and 2. If money were no object, what would you do?

When I stand before the Lord I want to have some treasures to lay at His feet not an ash heap.