Encouragement

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As I walked down the sandy path toward the kitchen I annoyingly shook sand particles out of my flip flops while in deep contemplation of my newest adventure…FEET. Armed with washing basins, fragrant lotions and soaps I made my way toward the kitchen to wash the feet of some of Father's most precious children, the women of Mozambique, Africa. As I walked I could feel my heart overflowing with anticipation at the honor and blessing it would be to serve these women by lavishing Father's love on them.

After unsuccessfully trying to explain what we were doing in English to a group of women who spoke only Portuguese, we gave in and asked a translator to explain. As he spoke I watched their faces transform from dazed confusion to shock as smiles crept across their faces and their eyes began to twinkle. It was as though the cares of their day were swept away and their faces radiated with astonishment that 3 white skinned people were willing to wash their worn feet.

As I knelt in the sand and began rinsing their feet I pondered about the places these feet had gone. Each woman was uniquely different; a precious gem, a royal diadem buried among the poverty stricken land of Maputo, Mozambique.

I was amazed at the joy these women possessed! After all, they are daily surrounded by the limitations of living in the poorest nation in the ENTIRE world. As I thought the Lord brought a particular passage of scripture to my remembrance, Isaiah 55.

"Ho! EVERYONE who thirsts, Come to the waters: And you who have NO money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come buy wine and milk without money and without price. WHY do you spend money for what is not bread, and you wages for what does not satisfy???"

It was then that I realized that these women truly understood what it meant to be poor in spirit.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

'Wow,' I thought. I went to Africa thinking I surely knew more about the kingdom than they, after all, I was educated. An indescribable feeling of dumb practically paralyzed my body at the newfound understanding that these women understood the kingdom in ways I never have, perhaps ways I never will understand. They truly understood what it means to have NO other hope but Jesus, to be poor and beggarly in spirit.

"But he who puts his trust in Me shall possess the land. Prepare the way. Take the stumbling block out of the way of My people."

I began to think on all of the things that have been allowed to be "stumbling" blocks (which due to financial lack are not present in Africa) in my life; all the times I have put my trust in man instead of the Almighty, wracked my brain with worrying and desperately tried to work things out myself, mostly things I CANNOT change. Despite my mere human efforts it never fails that I ALWAYS end back up at the foot of the cross!! These people have nothing "fleshly" to put their hopes in. Their only hope IS Father Himself.

As I finished rinsing their feet each one was made to feel like the Father personally reached down and chose to bless them. Some women began to dance around, some shyly sat in amazement at what had just happened, a few sang a song of praise and one even tried to help us after receiving her blessing.

It's exhilarating to experience firsthand how Father works. Not only did He show those women how truly adored they were but He showed me how the bridegroom rejoiced over His bride. He ROCKS!!!

It's amazing how Father cares about each and every part of us, even our feet. He desires for us to know how beautiful and valuable we are. If Father cares this much for the seemingly most insignificant part of us, imagine His desire to pour out his love and completely saturate every part of us.

It is when we realize how desperately we need him, how beggarly in spirit we are, that He is able to step in and fill us with Himself. He won't force His way in, He has to be invited. Invite Him into the most intimate parts of yourself and allow Him love on others through you.

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