“No young man can live in such an atmosphere of unpunished dishonesty and lawlessness without wrecking his character.”

This quote connects hauntingly well with our society today just as it did back in 1897.

What guides your decision making? Where is your focus? Join Kate and Sheila as they discuss an 1890s instant classic, In His Steps. Charles Sheldon’s best seller tells the story of Henry Maxwell’s challenge to his congregation,  prompted by a tramp who wandered into his church,  spoke boldly to the congregation, then suddenly collapsed. What did the Henry’s pledge consist of? He presented them with one simple question to guide all their decision making…

 What would Jesus do? Ironically, one hundred years later a youth leader shortened Henry Maxwell’s question to the acronym, WWJD. It was put on everything from coffee mugs to T-shirts. 

What a powerful question! Sheldon takes readers on the amazing journey illustrating how that one question impacted  those brave enough to accept and live out the pledge in their lives. 

“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.” 1 John 2:6

During this time period the United States was suffering an economic downturn, known as the Panic of 1893. We discovered how living out that question enriched and challenged the lives of a newspaper editor, a singer, an heiress, a store owner, a college president, railroad superintendent and others. The resoluteness of these folks was inspiring! 

Why is this book important? The store owner said, “The first change I made was in my thoughts about my employees…What would Jesus do?” Thoughts are powerful and they are where change begins. Thoughts feed our actions. Remember the old truism, “Two natures beat within my breast, one is cursed, one is blest, one I love, one I hate, the one I feed will dominate”?

In our busyness it is easy to forget our true focus. We make decisions on the fly as we go willy-nilly through life with Jesus on the back burner but we must slow down and remember…

“We can’t imitate Jesus if we don’t know Him.”

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My favorite way to read is curled up with a soft blanket and a hot cozy drink in my hand. Currently my go to beverage is decaf coffee with Earth Echo's Cacao Bliss blended in. Ten powerful, organic superfoods that help with relaxation, joint pain, weight goals, and mental focus. Use my coupon code KATEM10 to get 10% off your order when you try their products.

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