Devotionals for the Heart: What it means to walk and live like Jesus

Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus
A devotional by Karen Marstaller

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” 

–Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV)

At our favorite pancake house, one of the waitresses is in much demand.

Her station is always full. She moves easily from table to table, taking orders, dispensing coffee, and paying close attention to her customers. We love it when we’re seated in her section because she remembers we are the “with lemon, no ice” and “with ice, no lemon” couple. How she does it, I’ll never know.

There’s another reason why we enjoy eating at her table. Even though she’s been working there for a long time, she always greets us with warmth, and then waits on us as though she’s been waiting all her life to serve us. Another cup of coffee? Coming right up. A spilled glass of juice? Not a problem.

The restaurant is located near the city’s hospital district, so many of her customers are either out-patients, relatives visiting loved ones receiving care, or people waiting to hear what their doctor has to say. She is sensitive to each one and takes time in her constant hurry to speak to them, to listen to their stories, and to encourage them. People rarely leave her station as dejected as they were when they arrived, and on each ticket, she signs her name and puts a little smiley face beside it, thanking them for their patronage.

In the verse from Colossians above, the word “heartily” is used. In this connotation, the word means joyful exuberance. That’s what our waitress exhibits, even when she’s working short-handed and is in a rush. Her customers appreciate her kindness and her service, and many times they become part of the regular crowd that flocks to her.

Jesus was like that. Patiently and tirelessly, He walked the Judean hillsides and the countries surrounding them, meeting every need. Five thousand people are hungry? Bring Me what you have, and I’ll feed them. Terrified disciples on a little boat in a violent storm? Don’t worry. I’ve got this. Huge crowds of people all around Him, and yet He knew when one woman touched the hem of His garment and was healed. None of it was a disruption or a problem for Jesus. He went on each path with a single purpose—to serve each person with care and dignity. And with love.

Jesus kept moving along His earthly path, placing His hands on little children in blessing, touching a leper and making him clean, restoring sight to the blind, and even raising the dead to life. Always, wherever He went He reasoned with the religious leaders who couldn’t fathom Who He was—and still is today—the Son of God and the Son of Man. As Jesus walked through the Promised Land, He deliberately moved closer to Jerusalem, and to His death on a cross.

On the night before He was crucified, Jesus washed the dirty, sweaty feet of His twelve disciples. Kneeling before each man, the Lord Jesus Christ tenderly bathed and dried each foot. He had been waiting all their lives to show them how much He loved them, and He gave them a vivid portrayal of His love in action.

Then He sat down and taught them another lesson they needed to learn. He taught about servanthood. He told them, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you” (John 13:14-15 ESV).

His message is still resonating in the hearts of all who have accepted Jesus as their Savior, even in our world today. Now we serve the risen Lord Jesus, and we want to do our work heartily, as for our Lord. You need a piano player? It would be a pleasure. You want me to teach the little kids a Bible story? Sure, which one? You want me to feed the hungry? I’ll bring a bag of groceries and a ladle.

Sometimes our work for the Lord takes us to humble places, to hurting people, or to the sick and dying. With each job He gives us, we rejoice in becoming a visible representative of Jesus’ love. We become an extension of the hands and feet of Jesus. And in doing so, we fulfill His purpose for us—to wash each other’s feet in joyful exuberance.

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for the privilege of serving You. We ask for Your strength to sustain us, and for Your love to fill us. Please give us Your humility to serve others as You showed us. We praise You, the Lord of Heaven and Earth. In Your Name we pray. Amen.

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Author Bio:

Karen Marstaller is a retired high school teacher who spent most of her career challenging creative students to write. Her heart is for her readers.

She writes to encourage them, to make them laugh, to show them that life is a beautiful journey, and regardless of their past, to show them that there is joy ahead if they will just keep looking.

Karen and her husband live in central Texas in a sweet little home that they completely remodeled. They enjoy spending time with their family, which includes seven precious grandchildren.

Most of all, Karen writes in obedience to the command to love your neighbor, to offer a cup of water to those who are dying of thirst, and to comfort others with the comfort she has received.

You can reach Karen by emailing her at this address: klmarstaller@gmail.com

Summer Love: Character Interview of Katherine Newman from On The Rails

Character Interview with Katherine Newman from On The Rails, by Linda Shenton Matchett:

Alexis: Katherine, why did you think your boyfriend Henry Jorgensen was going to propose to you? Describe how you felt when he dumped you.

Katherine: Henry and I had been dating exclusively for nearly a year. He was a regular guest at our home for meals and family events. When he asked me to dinner at the new, fancy restaurant in town I assumed it was because he felt the date was a special occasion, and what’s more special than a proposal? I was heartbroken and embarrassed when he broke up with me. I felt like it was my fault that he was dumping me.

Alexis: Why did you decide to become a Harvey Girl. What was that experience like once you started working for Fred Harvey’s company?

Katherine: My mother was a Harvey Girl and loved it. She thought if I started over somewhere, it would be good for me, and I agreed. I was very nervous in the beginning. I had heard that Mr. Harvey’s son who ran the company was very exacting. I wasn’t sure I would be able to make the grade, but my boss, Miss Stewart was an excellent teacher, and I learned a lot. It was a very positive experience.

Alexis: Who is Pamela? Why did you think after a scene that she was out to get you?

Katherine: Pamela is one of the other Harvey Girls, and she seemed intent on creating difficulties for me and for making me look inept. Several times she made me spill or drop things in a way that seemed to be my fault. When Miss Stewart reprimanded me, Pamela didn’t own up to her part in the incident.

Alexis: What makes Eunice such a good friend of yours? How did she help you cope with your heartbreak that Henry caused?

Katherine: Eunice is a sweet, giving person. I met her on the train to Arizona, and she helped me get over my nerves of starting the new job by reminding me that I wouldn’t have been hired if the company didn’t think I could do the job. Her excitement for the opportunity was contagious. She also helped me focus on the new job, and when she became a Christian she encouraged me to pray about my hurt feelings. 

Alexis: How did becoming Head Waitress for the Harvey Girl Company change your life?

Katherine: Other than a classroom, I had never been in charge of anything, and it never occurred to me that I could hold a leadership position. Being promoted to Head Waitress gave me a tremendous amount of confidence because I gained additional skills and abilities that I could use throughout my life.

Alexis: How did you deal with the backlash from some of your colleagues who were jealous about your job promotion? 

Katherine: Initially, I wasn’t very mature about their behaviors, and I became aloof and standoffish to them. Eunice helped me see that the way I was acting exacerbated the situation, and she encouraged me to be firm and fair, but also friendly. Eventually, that made the relationships less contentious. 

Alexis: Who is Alice Jorgenson and why were you hesitant about working with her?

Katherine: Alice is Henry’s sister, and our families have known each other for a long time; since all of us were children. I thought she would expect special treatment because of that relationship, that I would overlook any errors she made or poor performance. My hurt feelings also seemed to surface every time we were in the same room, and I didn’t want to have to deal with that every day.

Alexis: How did you like your life in Arizona working as a Harvey Girl? 

Katherine: The geography of Arizona is very different from that of Ohio, and I wasn’t crazy about the heat, but it is a beautiful state in its own way. The Grand Canyon is magnificent, and Red Rock Country is intriguing. Because I loved my job, I loved being in Arizona. 

Alexis: Did you miss your home in Ohio? Why or why not?

Katherine: My family is very close-knit. We shared everything, so being far away from them was difficult. We wrote lots of letters to each other, but it’s not the same as being together. I missed them very much. I also missed my friends, but the excitement and enjoyment of being a Harvey Girl kept me busy enough that I didn’t get homesick too often.

Alexis: Is there hope of a happily ever after for you and Henry? Why or why not?

Katherine: Readers will have to wait and see!

Alexis: What was the most devastating part of leaving home to work in Arizona? Or was it an enjoyable experience for you? Explain.

Katherine: It was hard to leave my family behind to strike out on my own. As I said, we are very close, so it was difficult being apart, but because I made new friends that I still keep up with, and gained confidence and new skills, it was a wonderful experience.

Alexis: What lessons did you learn while working in Arizona? 

Katherine: I learned that God is in control and has our best interests at heart. He loves us no matter what our shortcomings. 

Alexis: Would you say that your experience as a Harvey Girl and Head Waitress made you stronger? Why or why not?

Katherine: The experience working for the Harvey Company definitely made me stronger. I learned how to work quickly and efficiently. I gained the ability to juggle multiple tasks and how to work with people who may be different than me. I am able to be on my own and make my own decisions.

Alexis: What’s the moral of your story?

Katherine: God is a God of second chances.

Alexis: Thanks so much for the interview, Katherine! Do you have any closing comments?

Katherine: Thanks for speaking with me! I hope readers will enjoy my story, discovering the role Harvey Girls played in taming the West.

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Author Bio: 

Linda Shenton Matchett is a journalist, blogger, and author. 

Born in Baltimore, Maryland a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry, Linda has lived in historical places most of her life—from Edison, New Jersey (named after the famed inventor of the lightbulb) and Washington, D.C. to Wolfeboro, New Hampshire (reputed to be the oldest summer resort in America). 

A freelance writer for over ten years, her articles and devotionals have appeared in numerous print and online publications. A varied career has included stints as a crisis counselor, human resources professional, bed and breakfast owner, and youth center director. She is currently the Front of House and Catering Manager for a boarding high school. She volunteers as a docent at the Wright Museum of WWII and as a Trustee for the Wolfeboro Public Library. 

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Book blurb for On the Rails: Warren, Ohio, 1910: Katherine Newman loves being a teacher, but she loves Henry Jorgensen more, which is why she’s willing to give up her job to marry him. But instead of proposing, Henry breaks up with her.  

Devastated, Katherine seeks to escape the probing eyes and wagging tongues of her small town. A former Harvey Girl, Katherine’s mother arranges for Katherine to be hired at the Williams, Arizona Harvey House. Can she carve out a new life in the stark desert land unlike anything she’s ever known? 

Henry Jorgensen loves Katherine with all his heart, but as the eldest son of a poor farmer can he provide for her as she deserves? The family’s lien holder calls in the mortgage, and Henry must set aside his own desires in order to help his parents meet their financial obligation. 

But when Katherine leaves town after their break up, he realizes he’s made the biggest mistake of his life. Can he find her and convince her to give their love a second chance?

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Buy Linda's book on Amazon

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Connect with Linda:
Website/Blog - http://www.lindashentonmatchett.com/
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/LindaShentonMatchettAuthor
Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/lindasmatchett

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