I Had a Dream

One night I dreamed a dream.
I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, I noticed two sets
of footprints in the sand,
one belonging to me
and one to my Lord.
When the last scene of my life shot before me
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
There was only one set of footprings.
I realized that this was at the lowest
and saddest times of my life.
This always bothered me
and I questioned the Lord
about my dilemma.
"Lord, you told me when I decided to follow You,
You would walk and talk with me all the way.
But I'm aware that during the most troublesome
times of my life there is only one set of footprints.
I just don't understand why, when I needed You most,
You leave me."
He whispered, "My precious child,
I love you and will never leave you
never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints
it was then that I carried you."

~ written by: Margaret Fishback ~
Thanksgiving, 1964 - Echo Lake Youth Camp, Kingston, Ontario, Canada ~

I was raised in the Roman Catholic Church - 12 years of education in Catholic schools - at one point I even thought I might have a "VOCATION" and sought counseling from the mother superior of a convent.

---- Sometimes I think that it was easier for me to come to a full belief in Christ as my Savior because of my earlier training in the Roman Catholic Church. At other times I think that has held me back. A bit difficult to explain but I will try -

Catholics have a great and wonderful faith for the most part in Jesus Christ - and through mine I grew to love Him with a very deep love. But, as with any "organized religion" man tends to get in the way. As I came to an age of understanding (aka adulthood) I found that distressing. It bothered me to see the "devout" Catholics sit in their pews on Sunday morning after having seen them during the week portraying lewd behavior, foul tongues, etc., watch them confess on Saturday, back to Sunday Mass and communion, only to see the whole thing again the following week.

Remember, all, this was during the late 60's - the age of "enlightenment", "seeking", "protest". I found that I could not condone my own actions nor those of the people around me - so I pulled completely away from organized religion.

But that devout Catholic girl was still in me - so when it came time to be married, we signed the papers necessary (Art was not RC) and were married by a priest in a church. When our girls were born, they were both baptized in the RC tradition. And - the GUILT I suffered whenever I did anything that was not condoned by "the church"!!!! Aaarrrggghhh! What a messed up kiddo I was!

I was never made to feel true love from anyone in the RC traditional setting. Sad, I think - since Jesus preached love and acceptance.

So, I began to seek - again, remember this was the 60's - age of the Beatles who were going thru their own seeking phase - TM, Edgar Cayce, etc. But I found that I was never comfortable with any of those either. Indeed, some of it was too scary for me. (baring my soul here)

My mother died when I was 23 - we had her baptized on her death bed as a Catholic, because we felt that she would have wanted that (not so sure on reflection - but done is done) - she left two small insurance policies. These were divided up between my sister and myself after all of Mom's bills were paid. Art and I used our portion to move to the other side of Columbus, buying a home there.

Jenn was born 1 1/2 years later - one day as I was nursing her, our oldest came running thru the door scared and breathless "Mommy - that man said he is going to hang me!" UP I came out of that chair and out the door to see just whom would dare to say such a thing to MY daughter. Turns out (to my embarrassment as I stood there in a crocheted - aka nearly see through - halter top, child at breast) that the man was a neighbor who just happened to be a pastor of a nearby church. btw - he was stringing out his fishing line, getting the kinks out - she ran over it with her bicycle and he told her to be careful or she would get hung up in it. Kids hear things differently.

This man and his wife began to visit with us - their youngest daughter babysat for us often - they showed us a love that we have never felt before. We began to attend their church (Eastside Grace Brethren Church) and were made to feel a part of the family. We still have friends from that church. Through their love and the Bible teaching we received there, I turned my life over to the Lord - accepting His sacrifice on the cross for me. Acknowledging that His blood covers my sins and someday I will be able to face the throne of God without shame - God cannot look on sin, but He will not see my sin - He will see only His Son's garments covering me. Thus I say I am saved by grace.

There has been a period of time that I once again allowed "man" to come between me and my God. How human each of us is - we are hurt for whatever reason and we lose sight of the One who can heal that hurt.

I found myself in the depths of despair, depravity - things I would rather not share with anyone. Then, gently, He sent people into my life again to show me that He still cares for me. I became friends with my Bible again and suddenly found myself walking into the church building again one Sunday this past March. Nobody was more surprised than I, btw. The youth pastor's babe urped all over his suit as I walked in the door and I almost took it to be my invitation to leave - but, instead we had a good laugh - the roof did not cave in on my head - I found sweet fellowship there and most of all, I found that my Jesus had not moved - I had moved. He was there all the time - in my heart - and waiting for me to accept and acknowledge His presence, His gift of love to me (His death on the cross).

I am far from complete - that will not happen until I "go home" to be with my Lord. I am far from perfect - there is only one perfect being - I *am* covered by His grace - and I am ever grateful for that.

The following poem began (in my mind) as a way to comfort my daughter over the loss of her baby in the winter of 1997. However, even before the second line was on paper, I felt the focus change to a reflection of the joy in heaven when a lost sheep returns and finds his way home.

~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~

WELCOME HOME

Welcome to Heaven, child
I thought I heard Him say
Be at peace and enter in
You've come such a long way

There is joy in Heaven, child
You've found your way home
Bells and flutes and harps
Ring out for all who've come

There are NO tears in Heaven, child
Though your earth family may cry
I'll wipe the tears away gently
And they'll rejoice by and by

So welcome to Heaven, child
His arms surround me in embrace
I know peace and joy within
As I meet my Lord face to face.

THE DAILY DOZEN

America is on a health kick. The fitness craze is sweeping the country! Homemakers are joining aerobics classes. Business people are joining health clubs and spas. Every"body" wants to get in to the act and get into great physical shape.

But in the midst of it all, perhaps we should take a break and ask ourselves a very important question: Are we concentrating so hard on the physical part of our lives that we are neglecting the spiritual? It may be that we have forgotten the importance of that inner being who resides inside our physical bodies -- the "real" you and the "real" me -- our spiritual selves!

When we put our faith in Jesus Christ we are born again into the family of God, and the spiritual side of our lives comes alive. That's when we begin to realize the importance of regular spiritual exercises in order for us to reach our full spiritual potential.

Here are twelve daily exercises designed to build our spiritual muscle and keep us in peak spiritual condition.

KNOW THE LORD. The Bible is filled with marvelous things about our majestic God. Each new day we should be reading and learning more about Him. We should get to know Him. -- I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day -- 2 Timothy 1:12

LOVE THE LORD. The old songwriter wrote, "To know him is to love him," and that's especially true of Jesus Christ. The more we read of Him and His Word, the more we love Him. To love God is the main reason we are alive. We need to do it every day. -- Love the Lord your God with all your heartand with all your soul and with all your strength -- Deuteronomy 6:5

OBEY THE LORD. As we begin to know our Lord and to love Him more each day, it's only normal that our heart's desire would be to please Him, to do those things which He expects of us. It is a daily exercise which produces real faith in our lives. -- If you love Me, you will obey what I command...To obey is better than sacrifice -- John 14:15; 1 Samuel 15:22

TRUST IN THE LORD. We can't really obey our Lord until we have learned to trust Him. The old hymn says it best, "Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey." We obey because we trust...and we trust even more because we obey. It is the finest spiritual exercise "cycle". -- Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. -- Proverbs 3:5-6

WAIT FOR THE LORD. Some days all the circumstances of our lives seem to be against us. That's when God says to "wait" for Him, which really means to keep on trusting Him when there is no apparent reason to keep on trusting Him. It's an exercise to strengthen our faith. -- I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope -- Psalm 130:5

REST IN THE LORD. There comes a time in every day when we need to take a little "breather"; to have some time to ourselves and to be alone with our thoughts and God; to get away from the hustle and bustle of life and just be quiet for awhile. -- Be still, and know that I am God...Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest -- Psalm 46:10; Matthew 11:28

PRAY TO THE LORD. The old saying simply says, "Seven days without prayer makes one weak!" And how true that is. Prayer is one of the greatest privileges given to mankind by God. It is our communication with God which gives us a great peace in our lives. Prayer changes things...and people...and us! -- Pray continually...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus -- 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Philippians 4:6-7

HOPE IN THE LORD. The physicians like to say, "Where there's life, there's hope!" But it is equally as true that, "Where there's hope, there's life!" As long as you and I have hope, we can make it one more day...take away that hope and there is no reason to continue. Jesus is our hope. -- Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness -- Lamentations 3:21-21

SERVE THE LORD. Each new day is an opportunity to serve God...to make a contribution to the cause of good and the Kingdom of God. We need to look for ways to serve our Lord and bring honor and glory to Him. -- Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. -- Joshua 24:15.

THANK THE LORD. The greatest exercise of our faith will be those days when we don't feel thankful for anything or anybody. To give thanks and praise to God on an everyday basis takes real faith, and it is an exercise that frees us from the shackles of self-pity and releases us to bring glory to God. -- Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus...Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ -- 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Ephesians 5:20

GROW IN THE LORD. Someone once said, "God wants us to be better today than we were yesterday, but not as good as we will be tomorrow!" God's plan for our lives is a growth plan. If we're not going forward, we're going backward. Exercise to grow! -- Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good -- 1 Peter 2:2-3

SHARE THE LORD. Probably the most fulfilling and rewarding exercise of the Christian life is when we share our Lord with others. With the dawning of each new day, we should be looking for ways to share His love with the world. With our lives. With our lips. -- Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have -- 1 Peter 3:15.

There they are -- The Daily Dozen-- guaranteed to make us be more of what God wants us to be and do more of what He wants us to do. Let's not forget to take care of our bodies, for they are the temples of the Holy Spirit of God, and He is the one who energizes us in the successful exercising of our lives. However, as we live our lives one day at a time, we should remember what the Bible says about our overall exercise program: -- Physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come -- 1 Timothy 4:8.
thanks to friends who send me such as this reminder. You all keep me on track.

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