I have two feet but, in some people’s eyes, too many shoes. Don’t get me wrong. I would not give Imelda Marcos any competition, but I do have a healthy supply of shoes, and in my eyes, each pair serves a specific purpose.

At one time my work shoes constituted my largest category as I had heels and flats of various colors and styles. Some for comfort and others for appearance. Now, however, my recreational shoes are taking over my closet. I have golf shoes for different seasons and weather, walking and hiking shoes, and those for casual wear.

All shoes are designed to assist us in whatever endeavor we choose. However, the shoes are worthless unless the feet are properly engaged and headed in the right direction. No shoes can remedy idle or errant feet.

As Christians we are often called God’s hands and feet, but how many of us just dress up our feet to look good but don’t go anywhere or do anything? The Bible gives us two reminders regarding our feet. First in Romans 10:15, Paul says, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things.” And then in Ephesians 6:15, he reminds us of that really only one pair of shoes is needed: “having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.”

God’s good news is a gospel of peace, but it won’t go anywhere without us putting it on and walking purposefully into our world.
 

Thanksgiving offers us a time to look back at what the year has brought. Wouldn’t it be nice if all we had to reflect on were wonderful memories? But I doubt there are many of us who sit down tomorrow who won’t be thinking of hardships or regrets as well.

Life can be tough sometimes. Tough choices often had to be made which might have left us alone and lonely. Many have battled life threatening illnesses. Unexpected accidents may have not only disrupted but sometimes devastated families. 
But we are directed, despite our circumstances, to thank God for all that has occurred this year, and by doing so we will be blessed.

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” I Thessalonians 5:18

“Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20

Psalm 107:1 “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!”

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15

I hope that as you sit down to your Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow that, despite the hardships 2016 may have brought, you will be able to thank God for His love and provision.

Finally, we have less than a week to go until the presidential election. Like most of you, I am ready for the whole thing to be over.

At the core of almost every disagreement between the two candidates was the issue of truth and honesty—whether regarding taxes or emails or any of the many other topics the two were at odds about. Both candidates felt that they had told the truth if they had provided just a portion of the relevant information. I am beginning to think they have been encouraged in this thinking by the media, as one of the editors of the New York Times just admitted that they have always been very forgiving of “fibs and exaggerations” as those were just a part of politics and only recently, and for the first time ever, called one of the candidates an actual “liar.”

I would like to be able to cast all my aspersions on political candidates, but unfortunately, I have found that these “partial” or “half truths” have cropped up in my own life as well. I have been on both the receiving and giving end of half truths, and I have heard and used all kinds of justifications for telling them. Regardless, the result is the same – the whole truth DOES eventually come out, and the result is that trust is undermined and relationships are damaged.

This is sad, because, in reality, when we don’t tell the whole truth, we are lying to ourselves the most. If we are holding back information about a certain situation or tweaking it just a bit to serve our own purposes, then we are not being honest with ourselves about what is going on in the bigger picture. As a result, many are hurt.

As futile as this is in our personal relationships, many of us do this in our relationship with God as well and how ridiculous is that?—Thinking or believing that we can hide information or give half truths to the omniscient God?

Fortunately, though it might be uncomfortable at times, God deals in absolute truths. What He promises He does. What He says is sin, is. What He says will bring peace, does.

Priscilla Shirer in her bible study “The Whole Armor of God” reminds us that the first piece of armor that a Roman soldier put on was “the belt,” an article of clothing that provided both physical support and a place to “tuck in his tunic,” so that he could move with freedom. For us who are told to put on the spiritual “belt of truth,” God’s truth provides that same support in difficult situations and freedom when we tuck in those situations that need to be wrapped in the light of God’s Word.

We may not be able to convince the two major presidential candidates that “honesty is the best policy” before next Tuesday, but each of us can begin this week to be honest with God and with others and with ourselves and pass all of our situations through the light of God’s truth so that we can live freely.

(Shirer, Priscilla. The Armor of God. Nashville, TN: Lifeway Press: 2015. Print.)