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?

Music, Books, and Jesus

          I started going to church when I was in fourth grade. In my first Sunday School class, I received my very first Bible – The Adventure Kids Bible. I didn’t know it at the time, but that was where my faith journey began. In a few short months I was baptized and continued to grow in my faith by attending Vacation Bible School in the summer and participating in children’s sermon on Sunday mornings. Now, I look back to my beginning days and see just how much my faith has grown as well as all who helped me be where I am today. As I continue to increase my faith I have discovered a few different methods, specifically in three areas of my life: music, books, and Jesus.

          If you ask me what my favorite songs are, my response would probably be a long list of Casting Crowns, Hillsong United, Skillet, TobyMac, and basically any artist on K-Love. Ever since I started listening to K-Love and Air 1 on the radio my morning routine has been energetic rather than slow moving. By listening to encouraging songs, I discovered a new outlook on life – joy, happiness, love, and faith. Currently, I have 110 songs on my playlist which includes a variety of upbeat and contemporary Christian music. Without music in my life, the faith I have in Jesus would not be the same. I hope you take the 30-Day Challenge listening to only Christian music for 30 days. I promise, it will change your life.

          Reading is a wonderful tool to pass time, in addition it draws the reader into a fairytale, mystery, or horror story. My first Christian book, Unlocked by Karen Kingsbury, came as a suggestion from my mom. Immediately, I fell in love with her stories and still continue to read them when I have the chance. Recently I have read some of C.S. Lewis’ books including Mere Christianity. If you are a book lover like me, I encourage you to find a Christian author that writes in a genre that interests you. Then, take a week to read a few of their books and see how your life changes.

          Jesus – Our Lord and Savior. King of Kings. Lord of Lords. Emmanuel. Honestly, I know that listening to music and reading uplifting stories is a great way to keep me encouraged throughout the week, but without a daily devotional or reading of His Word my week is not complete. Without Jesus, my life would not be worth living.

          My advice: find your passion. Then use your passion to inspire and teach others about the love of Jesus. Due to Casting Crown’s passion of making music, I am inspired daily which in turn I have started this blog to hopefully inspire one of you.

I would love to hear from you on your passions and inspirations. Feel free to comment or email me at biblesandbackpacks3@gmail.com

 

XOXO

 

Ashley