who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
(Philippians 2:6-8)

Reading this verse brings to mind the expression "walk a mile in his shoes". Most of us know what that means, and many of us know what the verse above means, but do we really understand it?
A couple of years ago I wrote about Granny and her illness. (Here is the link, go and read:
http://www.myfrontporch.blogspot.com/2004_01_25_myfrontporch_archive.html)

I know what it is to walk the mile. So does her husband and so does her daughter (my wife).
Yesterday I lifted her up from her bed, placed her in her wheelchair, lifted her up again and put her in the car. Then off to the doctor we went and then we listened to the doctor and he talked about how to care for her.
Granny is now in Stage III of her illness and we have now moved to 24/7 care and it is time for the professionals.
We have watched the woman who wrote cards of encouragement go to a woman who cries "ouch!" in a little girl voice when we moved her to clean her. The woman who cleaned her little daughter is now cleaned by the grown daughter.
Walk the mile.

Surely He has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. (Isaiah 53:4)


Two men of our congregation have lost the loves of their lives. Walk the mile.

Another fights the battle of cancer. Walk the mile.

Jesus understands the feelings we have. He knows the feeling of what we go through. He has walked the mile, just like us.

Some of us know what the verse means. Many of us understand it.
So does the God we worship.

Until next time on My Front Porch.

http://www.invisiblechildren.com/home.php

Go to this web site and think.

The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

Today I put a spoonful of sugar in my coffee. A very ordinary action that I do every morning. And just yet....just a few generations ago, that would have been an action of awesome proportions. Huh? you think, what do you mean?
Stay with me.
As a child, on Christmas morning, my parents (mom actually) would put give us kids an orange. Why an orange? I eat this fruit just about every day. Because when she was a young girl, oranges were rare. They were precious gifts to receive. Oranges were expensive to have, especially when purchased in the "off season".
Today we have so much, more than we know what do to with. Garage sale? One man's junk is another's treasure. E-bay anybody? Just another flea market or garage sale.
When is the last time you saw the terrible braces of polio? My students have to be taught what an iron lung is.
Well, you get the point.
I have read in religious magazines that Jesus promised us abundant living on this earth, that we would have more money, more things, (that is what more money can translate into), and financial security.
That somehow, believing in Jesus will get us that new car.
"Why when I prayed I received that check in the mail for my new business!" is something how these stories go. All about success for ---me.
Please tell me how Paul would respond to this as he was beaten and thrown in jail.
Ask Stephen if he is getting the "abundant" life as he was being stoned to death.
Please ask Peter and others about the persecution they experience because they wanted the "abundant" life that Jesus promised.
How people came up with is idea that we will blessed more physically on earth is beyond me.
Yes, the Lord has blessed me richly. I know that I am just a few generations from walking to school and living by kerosene lamps. And yet that generation said the same thing. I am blessed!
The Bible plainly teaches that the so called riches of this world are a hindrance to the spiritual world. Like an anchor that holds the ship, the possessions of this world hold us fast and do not let us reach out in our walk. We have sunk the wrong anchor.
Consider this verse:
He who finds his life shall lose it. And he who loses his life for My sake shall find it. (Matthew 10:39)
Many, many people have walked the path that Jesus has set out for them, and have lost their life, both physically and "figuratively".
Now the question is this: Where have you put your riches?
And the harder one:
Would you give them up?