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Footprints
Welcome to another edition of “geno’s column”. As many of you already know, this last weekend our website was attacked by “el diablo”, and with Gabe off in Kentucky, we couldn’t get the boards edited quick enough. For those of you who didn’t see some of the posts, well let’s just say they weren’t very Christian-like. It takes me at no surprise, though. Whenever God starts something new, the devil always tries to counterattack with a move of his own. I’m sorry if any of you were offended, but truthfully, this is the world we live in. A world that hates God. At first I was mad about the posts and wanted to retaliate, but after thinking about the situation, I counted it all joy. You can’t expect to do something for God without the devil trying to stop you.
I realized that this person who went out of his/her way to spend all of that time making post after post on this website is just another lost soul out there that needs to find God. I pray that maybe somehow the words on this website will get into his/her heart and that he/she may turn to God. So, “el diablo” if you’re reading this right now, just know that God loves you, unless you really are the devil, then I can’t help you out. If you have a problem with this website or want to talk about something reasonably, instead of writing a cuss word every other word, email me and let me know. We decided to remove those posts from the website, not necessarily because I have anything against you, but because we’re trying to build a Christian community.
Anyways, with that out of the way, I wanted to send out a “congratulations” to my brother Gabe (WEBMASTER EXTRAORDINAIRE) who is graduating from The University of New Mexico this weekend. I’m proud of that lil’ bugga. All I can say is “BOUT TIME!!!!” Just kidding bro, I am truly proud of you. Everyone needs to go out and buy Gabe a graduation present. As for all of you in Albuquerque, I’m gonna be down there this weekend for the graduation, so HOLLA AT ME if you get a chance.
This week I wanted to spend a little time talking about VALLEYS, the hard times in our lives, the low times in our Christian walk. The times when it feels like God is so far away, when we’re crying out for answers, for direction, for guidance and it seems we only get more lost, more confused and more out of place. In those times when we’re trying to make something happen and everything seems to fail, God is moving behind the scenes.
Growing up, my mom had a copy of the poem “Footprints In The Sand” hanging on our wall in the bathroom. I passed that thing everyday, but never really paid it much attention, until one day I actually stopped and read it. I don’t quite remember when it was, but I know I was still a kid. The poem reads:
FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND
By Mary Stevenson
One night I dreamed I was walking
Along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints.
Other times there were one set of footprints.
This bothered me because I noticed that
During the low periods of my life when I was
Suffering from anguish, sorrow, or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints,
So I said to the Lord, “You promised me,
Lord, that if I followed You,
You would walk with me always.
But I noticed that during the most trying periods
Of my life there have only been
One set of prints in the sand.
Why, When I have needed You most,
You have not been there for me?”
The Lord replied,
“The times when you have seen only one set of footprints
Is when I carried you.”
That poem has kind of stuck with me throughout my life. When I start going through hard times and everything around me starts falling apart, I turn to God and say, “Alright God, You got to start carrying me, cuz I’m not going to make it if You don’t do something.”
It’s kind of funny, the scripture I’m going to use next, I heard in a movie I saw this weekend. I’ll give you a dollar if you can guess which movie and the scripture? Nope, wrong. Too late, I guess I’ll just have to tell you. Well, I went and saw that movie “Van Helsing” this weekend and I’m not really a big vampire, werewolf, monster movie type guy, but I went with a friend because the movie looked kind of cool. There’s a part in the movie where they capture Frankenstein and are taking him away (I won’t give it away for those that haven’t seen it) and he starts quoting Psalm 23:4 which says, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” I guess it was sort of confirmation, because I started writing this column last week. God always seems to confirm things in the strangest ways.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that even in our valleys, God is with us. When life takes an unexpected turn and I don’t know which way to go, I have to turn to Him to help me through. I’m reminded of David in the Bible. So many times he was cornered by his enemies round about him. So many times he looked death in the eye, but he always trusted God to be there by his side. King Saul sought to kill him even though he did nothing wrong against him. David even had to flee from his own son Absalom for fear of death. Where did David find his comfort? He found it in God’s hands. He knew that no matter what circumstances came his way, God would be his comfort and his shield.
Psalm 3:1-8 reads, “Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, ‘There is no help for him in God.’ Selah. But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of His holy hill. Selah. I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. Arise, O Lord; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all mine enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah.”
Maybe you’re facing some kind of opposition or trial. It may feel like the enemy has you surrounded, chained and bound, but I’m here to let you know that God loves you and cares for you. All you have to do is cry out to him. Say, “Save me, O my God!” and He will be there to comfort you. His blessings are upon His people. Whatever you are going through, just remember that He is there to carry you through it. Paul and Silas were chained and shackled in prison, in a situation where most people would just start feeling sorry for themselves. What did they do? They praised God through their trials. They still managed to “count it all joy” although everything seemed against them.
Whatever you are going through right now, whether it’s a big trial or a little trial, I challenge you to put your trust in Him to carry you through. I know it’s not easy. The weight of the world and the stress that life puts upon your shoulders can be overbearing sometimes, but remember God will not give you more than you can handle. Hang in there, because after every valley, there is a mountaintop coming up if you keep pushing forward.
God Bless you all. I’ll catch you again next week. Send me some mail: geno@puthimfirst.com
w/muchluv,
geno
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