Beautiful Feet

by Benjamin Burke

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings the good news

Who proclaims peace,

Who brings glad tidings of good things,

Who proclaims salvation,

Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7

God calls us to missions. Sometimes, it is only to our neighbors, our friends, those around us where we are at. And other times, it is to the world. He may call us to go to completely different cultures. No matter where God calls us to go, we have to go, period.

It’s a period, but it’s not the end of the story. One way we can prepare for missions is to do what Jesus says most frequently to do; Read the Bible and pray. You have to make sure you are ready, in season and out.

As Christians we know that a time will come that we will have an opportunity to share the gospel and the good news. Many Christians spend time sitting and waiting for the opportunity to do that, but they are not preparing or seeing the daily importance of having fellowship with God. But the truth is, you can’t give what you don’t have. A verse that comes to mind is a verse from Ephesians 6. It says that when we are going out as Christians we need to have our feet “shod with the preparation of the gospel”. You notice that it actually uses the word preparation. Preparing to share with people is the most important part of missions.

God does call us to go out and share. Let’s not just hear the call. Let’s not just look for opportunities. Let’s be ready! If we are full His words then those words can be used to change people when the Holy Spirit leads us to speak them. If we are taking His good news, we are proclaiming peace, tidings of good things, and salvation! Our God Reigns!

Change

by Sterling Burke

In the world we live in, change, might be the principal part life. Some say life is change. Though if life is change, where is stability found? Does everything change all the time? The better question is; what doesn’t?

We live life fearing change when the reality is once you get up from reading this your life will have changed. Everything is change, and change is in everything.

I only wish that as things change, we could learn from the circumstances it brings and so, gain understanding from the past. Maybe if the past is clear we would be able to distinguish just what is needed to produce a brighter future. This to me seems the wisdom in it all, because you cannot stop change, you can only attempt to handle it wisely. Experience teaches, in the end, it will be just that; an attempt. Change will always come, but for better or for worse is up to you. You control your decisions and every decision made affects change. You cannot control actions of others around you, but again, you can control your decisions and your reaction to the future it brings.

You never again will have the same chances and the same opportunities as you do now. You will never view life the same. Enjoy the day. I am by no means saying do not take pleasure in the season you are in. I am simply trying to state when change comes do not shove it away. Move forward. Do not live your life trying to recreate the past by holding on tight to memories. Good are bad, they strengthen you. They are there to learn from. Don’t let them pin you down where you cannot move on. Remember, but do not relive. Live in the present, for soon it will be the past. Look forward to the future for soon it will be the present. Remember the past for it shaped you into who you are.

Change is an inevitable force, which can, in no way be stopped. As a mountain does not melt away into the earth, nor does change linger at your command. Only God does not change. Only God is in control as life gives way to change. If you attempt to control change, you are placing yourself in the place of God. Learn to trust. God knows where you are, He knows exactly what is happening around you. He knows exactly where you are and what you need. He placed you where you are for a reason and only He knows why. Trust and hold on to Him and He will always use all that happens to strengthen you. So, embrace the change God brings.

He is good and He brings us good all our days as we humble ourselves, trust Him, obey Him, and follow where He leads, no matter what has to change to get us there!