To me, not many people's feet are beautiful but to God, all of the feet of His children are beautiful. How do I know? One of my favorite Scriptures appears in Romans 10:15 (NIV). It says, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
Back in 1989, a friend and I had the opportunity to begin publishing a regional Christian newspaper in our area of Mid-Missouri. God had told me I would publish such a newspaper back when I was in junior high. At that time no such newspapers existed but I knew what God had said and had even gotten a degree in Christian journalism to prepare for it.
It took a lot of years but God did open that door and when He did, we named the publication Good News Journal. Our foundational Scripture was Isaiah 52:7 (NIV): "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of them who bring good news, good news. Proclaiming peace announcing news of happiness. ‘Our God reigns!’"
Our mission was to share the Good News about what God is doing in the world. We did that by publishing stories about what the body of Christ was up to, testimonies from Christians, stories from various churches and denominations and reports of church services, revivals and special events within our area.
Change and Depression
I was sure this was what God had planned for me for the rest of my life. Then, the internet began to become the better way for businesses to advertise and free printed newspapers started becoming obsolete. By 2002, we had to stop publishing GNJ because personally we did not have funds to do it. There was no other option.
Then the desperation and depression set in. I felt maybe it would be better if God just took me home. I hated the internet; I saw it as the enemy. Publishing newspapers was my way of fulfilling the Great Commission. Who was I without that?
My dream was gone, buried, dead. I was crying and asking, "What now, God? Have you put me out to pasture? Am I of no use to You anymore? What is my purpose now? "
What God Wants
Paul asks an interesting question in Romans 10:14 (NLT): "But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him?" Then, he says, "And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent. That is why the Scriptures say, 'How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring (or publish) good news'" (Rom. 10:15 NLT)
Many versions of the Bible translate this as, "How can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?" However, these verses are not meant to be just for preachers but for all Christians.
In Mark 16:15-16 (ESV), Jesus tells us what He wants us to do. "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."
Wait For Power
In Acts 1:8 (NLT), He tells His disciples before He ascends to heaven, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth."
Then, the Holy Spirit descended in power on the day of Pentecost, and the result was that Peter shared the good news boldly and powerfully, and more than 3,000 people became believers that day.
This is what our Savior wants us to be doing. He wants us to be boldly proclaiming and courageously publishing the good news of what God wants to do in the lives of people today.
Sharing Good News
The question for me was, how can I publish the Good News now? Eventually God showed me the myriad of ways the internet has opened up these possibilities. They include blogging, speaking, recording, publishing books and producing podcast, along with things like writing and performing music, poetry, creative and prophetic art, social media posts, blog posts and podcasts.
The world has literally exploded with ways to get information into every part of the world. The internet is everywhere and if it isn't, it's coming soon. We know the value of keeping people connected. Now I love the internet! Who would have thought such an invention would change our lives so much? I can even write a book, format it and have it up on Amazon where anyone around the world can purchase it.
When we are publishing and proclaiming the Good News in any form, we are doing beautiful work in His name. This is why Isaiah and Romans say the feet of those who publish the Good News are beautiful. It doesn't matter in what way we share our Jesus journeys with others; it just matters that we share.
Destiny Journey
Remember that back in 2002 when Good News Journal folded and I felt my calling had ended? Well that was just the beginning of my destiny journey. After that, I lost a whole lot of weight and God called me to write my memoir, Sweet Grace: How I Lost 250 Pounds.
After writing that book, God called me to coach others in how to work with Him to transform their lifestyles, lose weight and live healthy. That was in 2014 and I am still coaching in Overcomers Christian Weight Loss Academy, where I have 25 courses to help members, along with a membership group, weekly calls and monthly Zoom meetings.
Then I started being featured on television and radio programs, wrote five more books, started a podcast and have been featured on other's podcasts. All of these are ways God provided for me to share my testimony of what He has done in my life.
Moral of the Story
The moral of this story is not that you have to lose weight before you step into your destiny. I did a lot of good work when I was super morbidly obese.
However, I was always aware that God had something more for me if I would simply listen to Him. He had given me my lifestyle change plan, but I felt it was impossible for me to do so I didn't follow Him.
John 10:27 (NLT) says it very simply. "My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me." I heard His voice and listened to Him. He knew me all too well but I didn't follow Him until I got to the state of desperation.
God Directs Our Steps
Whatever it is that God is telling you to do, or has been telling you and you have been ignoring Him, that's what you must do now. If not, He won't take you the next step on your journey.
I was begging God to show me what my destiny was but all the time it had been right in front of my eyes. He wanted me to follow Him to get healthy. It would become my testimony of how He has moved in my life and how He can move in lives of others with similar issues.
The moral of this story is found in Proverbs 3:5-6 (TPT): "Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on him to guide you, and he will lead you in every decision you make. Become intimate with him in whatever you do, and he will lead you wherever you go."
Like that old hymn says, "Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey."
Teresa Shields Parker
