Job 13:27b my feet also in the stocks,

Job 13:27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet. This verse today was awesome for me.

Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks,

Why would God put my feet into stocks or Job's for that matter? Wikipedia had some interesting things to say about stocks. One thing it refers to a physical restraint. I know during times of captivity they are used to slow down the one wearing them.

               -maybe to slow me down so I don't get ahead of myself. Or worse get ahead of God. I would say that is what has happened over the past several years. I really like to have things planned out way in advance. I start organizing my holidays at the end of October. I do not like running by the seat of my skirt. I feel very out of control. Maybe that's God saying He doesn't want me in control anymore. Not that I ever really am. It is how we teach our children....right. We let them think they are making the choices...but we orchestrate the whole thing...to keep them safe at let them learn the best way.
 

lookest narrowly unto all my paths.

This has been a source of disagreement with people over the years. I, by far, am not the smartest person in the world...but I do take God's Word at face value. ( a gift is a gift, hell is hell, free will is free will) "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6, KJV

               -Paths plural...He looks at each choice we are going to make. He sees the outcome of each of those choices. He implores us to go the narrow way...the straight way. The way that is best. Do we always chose right? No! I really believe God knows all...He knows the end of each path that I might take...and when I am standing at the cross road...He is cheering me to go down the perfect path. It is my choice. I believe He gets GLORY when we choose the right way. I am not God, could be wrong, probably am wrong. Will it keep me from Heaven? No. So I believe God only lets Himself know what the outcome could be if we chose right, then on to the next crossroad.

thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.

                 -First let me say WOW! My path is for ME to go down. My print is mine and mine alone...it is unique to me. People can see which way I have chosen. WOW again...they can see where I have gone off the path...stopped and hem hawed around. It also shows when I have taken my time and when I have been in a hurry, maybe broke into a full run. Others can follow me through my tracks. How many times have I led someone off the pathway because of sin. I can think of one that always comes to mind.

                Jeff B. - He was an old boyfriend of mine. My mom introduced me to him...he was tall...I was 5'11” he was MUCH taller. I thought doesn't she see his long hair and the earring in his ear??? Mind you I was a “church girl” I went to the Christian school. I attended all the youth activities...and I was one of the worst teens in our youth department...I won't go into my sin...but I led others to a wicked lifestyle. The adults never saw that though...I was a “good girl”. My mom had told Jeff I could go skating with him (I know...he loved skating) if he came to church with me. Well he got my number off the check that my dad had used to by my boots, he was the salesman. So he called and we went to a youth rally. We “dated” for about six months. I would tell him you know Jeff you need to get saved and he would say, “Why?” I would tell him it was so he wouldn't go to hell. He would say to me why was it that I was going to heaven and he wasn't. I would reply because I am “saved” (not so sure now if I was then) he would just act confused and say that we were the same...there was no difference between us. I would cry and plead with him. He just couldn't wrap his head around it. He would talk about plans for his future...what he was going to do...like when his folks died he would get the house (an only child). I would say Jeff you could die before your folks...you need to get saved...and the whole thing would start all over. Jeff started getting serious with me...always a perfect gentleman...he started saying he loved me...bought a bracelet with love Jeff inscribed on the back. I told him I didn't feel the same...we ended up splitting as friends. I saw him at a store about a year later...he was doing good. Saw him again at the ER, he was with a girl, waiting on someone...I thought...better not say hi. I didn't want to cause any problems. The next time I saw him was on the front page of the paper...He and his fiancée's friend (fiancée had to work) had went to a concert in Cleveland, OH. Driving home, a drunk driver came around a curve towards them on the divided highway. Jeff had no where to go there was concrete on both sides of the road, and hit Jeff head-on with enough force to push the engine in to the passenger compartment. It killed the girl instantly. Jeff lived long enough to tell the paramedics his name and number. That night at 3 am his parents got a phone call...their only child had just stepped into eternity...I never knew...his parents were saved. They knew Jeff wasn't...they had been praying for him. His mom was a complete basket case at the funeral. That has been close to 30 years ago. I have no way to make it up to Jeff...how do you take back hell. I have had pastors tell me that Jeff made the choice to not except Christ. I look at it as Jeff made a choice to follow me...my foot prints...instead of Christ.

Your walk talks, and your talk talks, but your walk talks louder than your talk talks. I just pray that Jeff got saved before he died...The only thing I can do is to tell people about Christ...and try to walk the talk!