–Dan Arnold  (Alta Vista)

       “He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints.”

                    –Proverbs 2:8 (NKJV)
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I wrote last week regarding the steps of the godly person.  God directs them, He shines the light of His Word upon them.  However, there are some conditions.  “Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established.  Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil.”  (Proverbs 4:26-27, NKJV)  Don’t rush through life, but take time to ponder your steps.  Don’t think that life is tip-toeing through the tulips, but let your step be firm, established so it will not slip.

          “I’m following Jesus–One step at a time,
          I live for the moment–In His love divine.
          Why think of tomorrow,–Just live for today,
          I’m following Jesus–Each step of the way.”
                    –Redd Harper

See, we work out our salvation with “fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12), therefore we must be careful where we step.  It is a daily walk, in fact, the walk is step by step, moment by moment.  Life is living, but that living must be in the will of God.  Our ways can only be established as we follow His will and look for His guiding hand.  Richard Dresselhaus said, “Your steps are ordered of the Lord—and confirmation is part of God’s leading.”  As we walk under the guidelines of His word, He will confirm our steps.  

          “The pathway is narrow–But He leads me on,
          I walk in His shadow–My fears are all gone.
          My spirit grows stronger,–Each moment, each day,
          For Jesus is leading–Each step of the way.”

Jesus said that only the “pure in heart shall see God” (Matthew 5:8)  How can we be pure?  Jeremiah says that “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9, NKJV)  We must go back to the great work of Christ on the cross and remember that we are justified by faith.  That justification, that faith, also is His imputed righteousness.  That is the only way we can have a pure heart; that is the way our spirit can grow stronger.
       So live for the moment each day in Christ.  Do not worry about tomorrow, live for today by following Jesus–each step of the way.  I want to mention here that there will be no Echoes for the next two weeks.  My path is heading out to the High Lonesome and I’m planning on enjoying each step of the journey.

                    –Luke 12:27 (NKJV)
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We have had a tremendous heat wave this summer along with a severe drought.  A tree from the neighbor’s lot fell across our driveway, no harm done.  To some it may seem that the Lord has forsaken this place, and not only here, for I know that it is far worse in other areas.  But when I read Psalm 104, I am refreshed because I know the Lord is concerned, that He has is under His control.  

          13 — He waters the hills from His upper chambers; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of Your works.
          14 — He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the service of man, that he may bring forth food from the earth.
          15 — And wine that makes glad the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread which strengthens man’s heart.
          16 — The trees of the LORD are full of sap, the cedars of Lebanon which He planted,
          17 — Where the birds make their nests; the stork has her home in the fir trees.
          18 — The high hills are for the wild goats; the cliffs are a refuge for the rock badgers.
          19 — He appointed the moon for seasons; the sun knows it going down.
          20 — You make darkness, and it is night, in which all the beasts of the forest creep about.
          21 — The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their food from God.
          22 — When the sun rises, they gather together and lie down in their dens.
          23 — Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening.   (NKJV)

       Upon reading these verses I think that they are often blessings that we take for granted or not notice at all.  In a severe drought, the rain is noticed.  That which came on a regular basis then stopped makes us wonder when it will ever rain again and when it does we are grateful, happy–blessed.  In the tremendous heat of the day, the cooler evening comes and we are blessed.  
       God’s wonderful creation and why?  For us–for mankind.  He was thinking of us, each one of us.  Resources were provided for us, not only nature but He has given a glad heart, a shining face, and a sustained heart–one that makes it through the long haul. (George Wood).  It is interesting that when man is introduced that he is seen as a working man, not at play or rest.  How can we look at the world and not see the wonder of God?
       Look at these verses again and then reflect on the days of creation.  It didn’t just happen.  The cycles of nature didn’t just one day–poof–come into existence.  No, they were designed by God and spoken into existence by Him.  In that first garden, man was given a task, he was to work, be a caretaker of the Garden.  He was given responsibility to manage what God had created.  “The more we learn about the wonders of our universe, the more clearly we are going to perceive the hand of God.” (Frank Borman)
       Twenty-two years ago, the United States was attacked in a dastardly and evil manner.  In the midst of all that terror and turmoil, many forgot the Creator, or they turned to Him in response to tragedy.  Many wondered, “where was God?” when the attack came.  Listen, when the battle rages, when there seems to be no end to the attack and certainly no sense to it–look up and see the wonders of God.  He is involved, every day in the world, and every day in our lives.  That day, September 11 should have turned the nation back to God, and it did for about a week.  However, instead of becoming a godly nation, humble before the Lord, we became one of tolerance to the extreme.  One who has forsaken the Creator.  Instead of looking at His blessings, they have been forgotten and even spurned.  Lord, have mercy on us.  In your life, God is in control, read these verses and if you think He is not you are missing the great blessing from God.

               “He built the earth, He spread the sky,
               And fixed the starry lights on high;
               Wonders of grace to God belong,
               Repeat His mercies in your song.”
                        –Isaac Watts