“So yesterday evening, my husband Erik finally, after three days of very hard work, was able to get this tree down in our backyard. A bad storm had come through and the tree was rotten in the middle, so it took half of it. Erik had to take the rest of it down. Needless to say, my family and I loved that cute tree, and we miss it already. The whole atmosphere of our home looks different now.

As the tree came down and we were finishing up for the day, we saw these two birds staring at the tree lying on the ground. They had built a home there in that tree, and I was very saddened for them. I told them we were sorry about the tree but to go out into the forest behind the house and find another place to make their home. As I watched them, I began to think about the scripture in the Bible where a teacher came to Jesus and said, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head’ (Matthew 8:19-20). Amen.

I thought about that because we all want to follow Jesus, and we even tell Him that we will. But here, I believe the Lord was telling him that to follow Him is a complete sacrifice. The Lord never had an earthly home as we all do, with the comfort of a nice warm bed and a home-cooked meal. Jesus was always on the move, constantly traveling for His ministry. He followed God wherever He sent Him. He did not have material comfort. The Lord dedicated His life over personal gain and remained humble in doing so. By following the Lord, He was warning them that you give up a lot at times. You face hardships and much discomfort. To follow Him means you will be rejected and not welcomed by people. Amen.

The Lord was very humble, and He gave it all. But as I read this, I thought, Lord, we live in a day and age where we all seek comfort. Regardless of how we get it, we want it. We don’t truly give up anything at all. When we say we will follow You, Lord, that is a huge statement. You never know where God wants you to go or what He will ask of you. Are we willing to say yes, even if it means changing our whole lifestyle, moving to another city, going into the mission field, or changing careers? Are any of us truly willing to say yes? Without the yes, lives don’t change because we still have free will to say no.

My heart is that if the Lord is leading any of us in any way, we deny ourselves, pick up our crosses, and choose to say yes and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). Amen. We spread and share the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world that needs to know we have a Savior. Amen. Jesus said, ‘Nevertheless, not my will but Yours be done’ (Luke 22:42). Amen. Let us also be willing to say yes and be willing to go wherever that road may lead. It is not about us and our comfort in life; it is all about Jesus and saving souls for eternity. Amen. In His name, Jesus’ name, I ask and pray. Amen and Amen. Be blessed today, my dear sweet friends, and remember wherever you go and whatever you do, be a light for our Father. Much love to you all, Mandi.”