I am SO GLAD that I finished the binge feeling for watching ‘Hoarders’ on Netflix, whew, it sucked me in at night on the couch, but wow it inspired me to clean and discard things in the morning!!! (and what a good cleaning day it has been – damp and dreary outside but inside inspiring to clean out my non-‘treasures’ especially dust.)

I found a precious inspiration in one special pile: the scripture card to: ‘Cling to what is Good’ and the beautiful ‘Footprints in the Sand’ poem on a prayer bulletin from the funeral services of a friend’s dear husband, taken too soon.

I paused, I’ve just been to the beach, walking my own footprints into that sand for a temporary time… Footprints in the sand do make a mark, but they disappear with the tide like they should. In other words, even the treasures of Jesus carrying us are best treasured as memories and not memorabilia. Footprints disappear, Jesus’s human ones too, on earth, but Jesus feet stay in spirit to move us along. 

And do cling to what is good, all the while discarding non-treasures, oh that we would or should be willing to be less burdensome when carried by Jesus. That attachment to worldly stuff? Natural because we are human and natural because we are in this world. And that guilt of glut? Let that go too. Jesus doesn’t require you to clean up before He picks you up. He knows what to leave behind. 

I kept the card and the poem, the heart prints of my memories are of Jesus carrying me and my friends. The rest of the clutter found, like disintegrated 20yr old shoes stuffed in the back of the closet, I cleaned those things out – those old footprints of me should disappear with the tide of today’s new beginnings.

And what does keep us distracted in this world? The spiritual warfare of ‘you deserve this’, ‘you need your stuff’ over the more humble: ‘Isn’t it a blessing that God gave me trinkets and resources’ and ‘l can let go of these items for another to enjoy – or not get so much next time.’… Trust God to get clean and cleaning.

Yes, Isaiah 14 tells of one of the multiple times Satan has and will fall against the ultimate almighty God. God puts him down. We should remember that the whispers of selfish intent will fall just as the devil falls. Devil DOWN. Don’t ever say “the devil made me do it.” – instead Cling to what is Good – hop up into the Lord’s arms – leave only Jesus’s footprints in the sand… He came to carry us.

Amen

—

Isaiah 14:11-15 about the devil

All your pomp has been brought down to the grave, along with the noise of your harps; maggots are spread out beneath you and worms cover you. How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; Iwill raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,  on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit.

Romans 12:9-18

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; CLING TO WHAT IS GOOD. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.