These BOOTS were made for WALKING

A few years ago, I had the privilege of taking a group of young girls on an adventure camp called, Talitha Koum. We had a ton of fun and got challenged physically, emotionally and spiritually. I will never forget clinging to a pole on an obstacle activity that we dubbed 'Jacob's Ladder'... I almost cried (inside I was crying... if it wasn't for the fact that the young gals did it with such bravery, I would've given up on the first step of the 'ladder'. I won't lie, it was one of the scariest craziest things I have done since having kids.)

Blast from the past! My sister, in front, cheeky little ten year old, throwing a peace sign & wearing her purple leather boots even in the middle of the forest. Rock chick style! I am wearing a red Popeye sleeveless shirt... barefoot. I think my sister definitely got the better fashion sense.

I came across some of my notes and thought to share these...

On life’s journey, there are three main things to consider: where you walk, how you walk and what shoes you’re wearing.

What shoes do we need to wear? In the movie, “Cloudy with a chance of meatballs”, the little main character, also a wanna-be scientist, invents “spray-on” shoes but he ends up being mocked since he cannot get the shoes off his feet… ever. Yes, he wears it for the rest of his life. What shoes do we need to wear? The “spray-on”, “impossible- to-remove” shoes that God gives us once we become His child: the Holy Spirit. Tough. Durable. A perfect fit.

How do we need to walk? “Tread softly, for your life’s journey is walked with the heart.” In Hebrews 3, we are warned not to harden our hearts, but to listen if we hear the voice of the Lord. In Prov 4, it speaks of guarding our hearts for it is the wellspring of life. How do we tread softly? By keeping God our source of life- reading His word- and listening to His voice and then acting in obedience. In the Hebrew language “hearing” is the same word as “obedience”. The two cannot be separated.  One can only be sensitive to the Holy Spirit if you practice keeping a princess heart.

Where do we need to walk? This life’s journey is not always a walk in the park, and therefore we need to walk wisely. Choose your friends carefully. In Psalm 1 it says “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; and in Pro 12:26  it says: “One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”

The shoe fits, wear it. Tread softly; walk wisely.

“I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in paths of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble.” (Proverbs 4:11-12) 

With the Holy Spirit as our helper (Joh 14:26) to tread softly and walk wisely, “stumbling blocks become stepping stones”.

Talitha Koum: “Little girl, stand up” Stand tall and walk in my ways...