Footprints in the Sand

Imagine you’re on El Castillo Beach, in Tulum, Mexico. It just so happens to be ranked among the top ten most beautiful beaches in the world. The crystal clear turquoise water tickles your toes as they’re slowly buried beneath the smooth, white sand. Your sun-kissed skin takes in the warmth of the sun’s rays as they dance across your back, and just ahead you can see the ancient ruins of an old Mayan Port, above the miles of limestone cliffs wrapped in gorgeous tropical vegetation. As you stroll down the coastline, your feet leave a trail of footprints in the sand behind you. The footprints seem pretty insignificant compared to the beauty that surrounds you, so much so that you hardly even take time to recognize them. Pretty soon they’ll be lost with the tide anyway.

In a lot of ways those footprint are like our sin. Sometimes they’re nice and neat, and you can make out their outline perfectly. Other times, they’re not so neat, the edges are smeared, and their shape is hard to make out. Regardless, their imprint in the sand tells you they’re there. Much like you might fail to recognize the footprint you leave in the sand when you’re so absorbed in the scenery around you, sometimes we neglect to identify, or rather acknowledge and accept our sin because we too are absorbed in the “scenery” around us. We get caught up in what society wants us to make of us, lost in the ways of the world, and even engrossed in the situations of those around us.

Have you ever really thought hard about what would happen if the tide didn’t come in each night and wash all those prints away? Part of the beauty in waking up early to walk the shore is the untouched sand, looking rather picturesque before everyone heads to the beach for the day and it becomes just as unsettled as before. The beach wouldn’t be nearly as beautiful if it were littered with prints! We often don’t give it a second thought, but we trust and count on the fact that the tide will come and wipe the shore clean. It would be crazy to wait up, watching and waiting to make sure it came. Instead, we have a little something called FAITH.

Just like we trust the tide will come, even if we don’t see it, we can have full faith in knowing that when we trust in God, our sins will be wiped clean. The tide is constant and reliable; there’s no picking and choosing the days that it’ll come. Similarly, our God is constant and reliable, and his grace is as never ending as the tide. No matter how many “prints” we’ve accumulated, He wipes our shore completely clean. Not only is it wiped away, but there’s not a single hint of evidence remaining as to what was there previously. One of my favorite verses, 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, behold, the new has come.” In trusting and believing in what Christ did for you, you are made BRAND NEW.

Now as you walk along the stunning shoreline of El Castillo Beach, maybe you’ll remember to glance behind you at those footprints every once in a while. When you do, recall the unbelievable transformation that occurs each night, and the wonder that remains in the morning when the beautiful beach is made new, just like you.

Xoxo,

Mary Kate

I Could Not Have Planned This

If you would have asked me a month ago how I felt about going to college. I probably would tell you that I’m scared that I won't make any friends. I am scared to death to leave my family. I would go on and on about how I will never feel the same in Manhattan as I did in Louisburg. Well, I was wrong.

      Today those answers from “me of the past” are no longer relevant. I have been on campus for roughly two weeks and I already feel right at home. Manhattan has become my home away from home. Not only have I joined a great sorority, but I have already made some amazing friends who have welcomed me with open arms. I never would have expected this. God’s plan for me here at K-State is in the beginning stages, but I see all the work from the past that has lead me to this moment. How each challenge has strengthened my faith and due to that challenge I am able to be confident in the Lord.

      God’s plan cannot be guessed nor imagined in its full glory, but it can be witnessed. I see it happening all around me in school, in my friends, and in my roommate. There are people placed on this earth to help guide us along the path. To encourage us. To help us through the difficult times. To be a shoulder to cry on. To be a brother/sister in Christ. I believe that these people are a gift from God.

As I was reading in my Bible the other day I came across this verse: John 5:37. “One plants and another harvests. And it’s true I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.”

This hit home. I realized that my spiritual journey has been guided along the way by many people in my church, my family, and now at college. My early faith was taught by my parents, my Sunday school teachers, and cute Bible coloring pages. As I grew older, my faith in Jesus grew with me. Increasing each day by youth group on Monday nights and encouragement from my friends throughout the week. This summer, the Youth Mission Trip took my faith to new heights (literally, we were up in the mountains all week). I found a love of serving people and spreading God’s Word. Now, I’m at college. Who knows where my faith will go next? But, I know that God has people here to help me all the way, just like he has done in the past.

So, my challenge for you: What does your spiritual journey look like? Who has inspired you along the way? And lastly, who do you want to inspire?

Everyday Angels

Following Easter and the story of the resurrection, I’d like to take the time to give a quick shout out to those lovely beauties we call angels. They did a lot to communicate with Mary and the Disciples during such an emotional time! So here’s to you, angels, keep on doin’ you. Literally translated, the word “angel” means “messenger.” That’s exactly what the angels did-they were messengers, there to communicate the fact that our Christ is risen and there’s no need to cry and mourn.

    Everyone has angels in their lives. In fact, you can probably think of a few people that serve as “messengers” of hope, love, and encouragement in everyday life. Even during our darkest moments, when all hope and positivity seem practically destroyed, our own angels dance their way into our lives and help lift our spirits and encourage us to grow out of the darkness. They’re like fairies, sprinkling pixie dust to eliminate the despair and gloom of our lives. they remind us that there’s a life much greater that awaits us, and that no matter what, the God of the universe loves us. Despite your faults and failures, you are loved. Our own angels may be in and out of our lives for merely a brief moment, or they’ll serve as relationships that last a lifetime. Nevertheless, their impact is substantial. Who are the angels in your life?

XOXO,

 

    Mary Kate

Meet the Writers

Mary Kate

Hello my fellow readers, I’m Mary Kate, one of the writers for Bibles and Backpacks. I was first inspired to start refocusing my life towards Christ by a young man, whom I am extremely blessed to have crossed paths with. His passion and enthusiasm for Christ motivated me to start attending a Bible study and youth group at a local church, where my roommate attends. Although my journey is just beginning, I’m extremely eager to continue to learn and spread the gospel to the best of by ability, and I’m thankful for the close friendship that I’ve gained with Ashley in the process. Aside from spreading the Word, I’m extremely passionate about my health-I love exercising and eating healthy! I also enjoy painting and I’m an avid DIY and crafter. Education-wise, I love math and science; my favorite class is calculus (nerd, I know right?), and I plan to obtain a degree in Biological Systems Engineering from Kansas State University. I hope you all enjoy our page, and special thanks to each and every one of you for reading! Have a most fabulous day, and may God bless!

              XOXO

          -Mary Kate

 

Ashley



Growing up in a Christian home it was habit to go to church every Sunday, however it was not until my high school years did I realize that working on my relationship with God was a daily activity rather than weekly. Since then, I have dedicated my life to Jesus and I’m always trying new innovative ways to praise Him including multiple Bible study plans and regularly attending youth group. Mary Kate and I played volleyball together freshman year which is where our friendship started and this year it has grown tremendously! Mary Kate and I are perfect partners for this blog because we both push each other to do our very best and our personalities work extremely well together. One of my favorite activities is photography, which I fell in love with sophomore year. My favorite part is being able to use my talents to help spread God’s word and encouraging others to find their niche as well. Have a wonderful day and God bless!

XOXO

~Ashley

 

Roommates of Christ

Many of you may find yourself in the same transition I’m in-the transition from the confined walls of high school and into the “real world.” If you’re like myself, that means taking on the new and exciting experiences of college. All the hard work and long hours studying, filling out scholarships, and applying to your dream school are finally paying off. Or maybe you’ve already had the experience of graduating high school and have had the chance to dip your toes into the pool of freedom. Nevertheless, I think many of you will be able to relate.

The moment is surreal when you finally receive that letter of acceptance and decide where you will be starting the next chapter of your life. Then comes deciding where you’ll live, what classes you’ll take, and most importantly, who your roommate will be and how you’ll decorate and plan your dorm room, apartment, etc. Although I speak from a girl’s point of view, I know picking out a color scheme, making crafty décor, and color coordinating bedding arrangements is a top priority.

College, for a lot of people, seems to push individuals further away from Christ. In reality, it’s completely understandable. You’re young and experiencing your first taste of freedom. There aren’t parents constantly hovering over your shoulder, you don’t have the typical 8:00-3:00 class schedule, and you’re introduced to countless opportunities to keep that social life of yours flourishing. Even if you’re like me, and can’t necessarily speak from experience yet, all of you have heard stories and know that college can, and will be, some of the best years of your life. However, I don’t see why college can’t allow you to grow closer to Christ in the process.

Your relationship with Christ can be a lot like a college roommate (in a good way). Your roommate is someone who will see you at your best, and also at your worst. They’ll see you all dolled up and ready for a night out on the town, but they’ll also see you without a hint of makeup on, when you first wake up, bags under your eyes and bed head like you wouldn’t believe. You and your roommate will share everything…whether you like it or not. Aside from sharing the same living space (which could arguably be barely enough room for one, let alone two), you’ll probably share clothes, snacks, accessories (again, speaking from a girl’s perspective). And guys, don’t lie to yourselves. You know you’ll be more than thrilled to come to find that your collection of video games has essentially doubled since having a roommate.

So now my question is, why not have that relationship with Christ too? No, I don’t necessarily mean share clothes, because you might find yourself on the next episode of ‘What NOT to Wear’, although Jesus sandals seem to be making a comeback. What I do mean, is why not let him see you at your best and worst? Don’t just thank Him when things are going well, but ask for help and encouragement when you’re feeling lost, or maybe it just hasn’t been your day. Share everything. Vent when you need help, let Him see you break down in tears over the fallout you just had with your best friend, or the difficult breakup you’re struggling with. Don’t turn your back when things don’t go your way. Those arguments with your BFF might only make you build your friendship into something stronger. And believe it or not, maybe that breakup was meant to happen, because he/she just wasn’t the right one, and God has someone better in mind for you. Regardless of the situation, my point is this: Don’t hide your faults, because the reality is you aren’t flawless, but you were perfectly created in God’s image. Don’t try to struggle through the tough times by yourself, and certainly don’t forget to include Him in the celebration of your successes either! Be open. Be vulnerable. Let Christ be your roommate.

~Mary-Kate