"Footsteps"

"Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me." Psalm 119:133

As we bring in this Saturday and the blessing of beautiful powdery snow to play in, I reflect on several lessons God has been working on that I would like to share.

Stay with me, as I will be sharing my famous "Pumpkin Chili" recipe at the bottom of this post for a cozy up meal! Join me in a "Daily Reflection" where I share a recipe every day, and a quick lesson God has recently shown me. And may it bless you on this beautiful Saturday!

"Follow my footsteps Jozie," I said as I trudged through thick powdered snow.

"I can do it!" she shouted in response. Nomade was curled against my chest, a scarf wrapped around us both as we attempted to catch up to the older ones. A gusto of joy radiated out of each of these four blessings as well as myself and being able to sled.

Jozie grunted behind me, her breath coming heavy, and the sounds grew further away as I trudged along.

"I'm falling behind!" she shouted, her little voice holding a twinge of three-year-old panic. I looked over my shoulder and stopped, chuckling as she pushes the snow with her little legs. She was attempting to forge her own path, her legs pushing her forward in just one spot.

I didn't know it, but there was a lesson, and God was moving in my heart. But it's taken several days to realize the work He was doing.

"Follow my footsteps Jozie, it will be easier," I said firmly, before I continued walking.

"I can do it," I heard a firm voice say back. Determined and laced with irritation.

"Ok," is all I said in response. More grunts, more huffs, more puffs... and then the whimpers started.

"It's so hard. So. Much. Snow. I can't, I can't do it," Jozie's firm and frustrated voice said.

I paused and took a deep breath. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. I debated walking back to her, I could easily hold her with one hand in piggyback style... but something told me not too.

"Jozers, look at my footsteps," I said, now fully turning around and facing an onslaught of wind. "Walk in my footsteps and it will be easier!" I shouted above the roar of it. Nomade began to whimper. We wouldn't last out here very long, and Jozie hadn't even had any fun. I kicked myself inwardly for even having the thought it would be warm enough to play for hours like we usually do. Her big hazel eyes looked at me, look at my footsteps, and then she looked down at her own footsteps.

I waited.

Finally, after several seconds her little voice piped out; "Ok mama."

When I heard the first giggle, I smiled fully. Despite the bitter cold. I looked over my shoulder, and she took several steps, a smile on her face. Her cheeks were rose tented, and she plopped down every few steps to eat the snow. Silly giggles erupted from deep in her chest. Snot pooled down her face, a mess of goop she shoved away with a jacket sleeve as she trudged forward before plopping back down and grabbed another chunk of soft snow to shove in her mouth. Grunts mere seconds ago of struggle now become grunts of enjoyment with every bite that melts against her tongue.

Eight inches of snow doesn't seem like much for us, as we think threw the problem and formulate a new idea of thinking how to overcome it. Eight inches of fresh powder for a three-year-old however is the difference between munching on the cold stuff like its cotton candy and a chest filled with hott frustration and cold tears.

How often do we forge ahead, as our pathway seems like it is not clear. So, we begin trying to forge our own? We miss opportunities to be present and have fun in the midst of our trials. This has happened recently, and time and time again before. I forge ahead, attempting to make clear a way for God when His thoughts are far above my own. I'm noticing, the closer I get to Him, how worldly my thoughts subconsciously are and where my heart really needs to be changed for Him.

Have you ever felt this way? Your path is unclear- and even though God says "Wait." or He says, "Walk in my footsteps, I laid them out for you." You still choose to attempt forging your own path? And in the process, your frustration grows, the exhaustion builds, and suddenly the tears are coming. But they're not tears of surrender or release. They're tears of realizing "I can't," as Jozie said. The tears of not knowing what to do next.

We can, for a moment, trudge a path alone. We can be so focused on ourselves and the problem and our own sin... that we walk our own path.

Just like Jozie did. I'm actually proud of her, she made it quite far. And, in the process, she built endurance. This is important as well. Trials build our endurance. But how much "endurance" is un-needed because of our own sinful push to do things our own way.

We have to have enough wisdom to slow down and hear Gods voice. To not be a "Savior" towards others, ourselves, and those we care about when the only savior who exists has already given us the truth (His word) and is laying the pathway forward or telling us to wait.

So often, I try an "Abraham and Sara"... thinking I can "help God" or "make it happen" in a better way than God has a plan too. If I am not doing something, I go crazy. Sitting on the couch, I still scan threw videos faster than a top and toss my phone down before picking it back up again to pre-occupy my brain. But then- God gets louder. "Just wait," He says. OR "Child, go this way, do this work, my footsteps have pushed away the snow." Yet, I procrastinate. I allow enemy attacks to lead me in a different direction. I allow the excuse of parenthood to keep me from taking care of my health or doing the things God wants me to do. I fall into the trap of my own flesh- verses the footsteps of a God who holds it all.

How often do you forge forward, shoving "snow" out of the way because you didn't like the answer God gave you? This was a huge case when I prayed, day and night, begged, screamed, and hit my face on the floor asking God to save our Bookshop. But yet, no matter what we did, and the work we put in, it was meant to close down. He had a reason. He always does. Sometimes, He gives and then He takes away. BUT He is still good!

He has a pathway laid out, to make things "easier." (I say easier in quotations because sometimes it's still not easier, but we know that He is walking with us in the midst of the hard.) So frequently we think our thoughts are above His. Even on a subconscious level. We don't understand (as Jozie didn't) till our body heaves under sobs of heart pain, exhaustion, and the pressures of this world.

But yet.... He calmly says as I did, "Follow my footsteps, it will be easier."

Where in your life do you need to Surrender today and turn from sin or iniquity? Come to the throne, and know, His words are still the same. He loves you...and His footsteps have made a way.

"PUNKIN CHILI"

ALPHA GAL FRIENDLY!

To start- Pray over your meal, pray over your ingredients, and may this recipe bless you!

Ingredients:

• Large plain can of pureed pumpkin

• Large can of diced tomatoes

• Four peppers (I like all four colors: red, green, orange, yellow for an extra pop)

• Two onions

• Four pounds of ground turkey or chicken

• One carton of bone broth

• four cans of beans (I usually do two black beans and two red kidney beans)

• 1 clove of garlic, or a tablespoon of diced garlic

• 3 TSP of cumin

• 1 TSP of cayenne pepper

• 1 TBSP of Salt (Add more if needed)

• Pepper

• A dusting of garlic powder, onion powder, and mustard seeds.

• 2 TBSP of Dairy free butter, olive oil, or coconut oil

Directions:

You will need a LARGE pot for this! I like to make ALOT of food, so it lasts. When I make this, it feeds my family two times with extra, so roughly 12-15 servings. It is high protein, and extremely nutritional.

Start by sautéing your meet together on medium heat. (I sprinkle on just a bit of the seasonings above, discretionary to your taste)

While that cooks, chop up the onion and bell peppers into small inch cubes. Toss them in with the meat and 2 TBSP of butter/oil when the meet is about halfway done. As you cook these down and they get nice and soft, add in your can of tomatoes (don't drain) and your bone broth.

Drain your beans and open your can of pumpkin. (MAKE SURE ITS PLAIN PUREE!) Add, and then mix all together.

Allow to simmer (Just starting to bubble as you mix) and lastly add all your seasonings! Let this simmer for at least 20-30 mins, or put in a crock pot to really soak in the flavors for a few hours! Lastly- ENJOY!