Day 58

Day 58 of  The Red Shoe Project was another RED flip flops day.  This footwear is a must when your day includes a walk on beautiful Lido Beach with your best girlfriend! We had lots to catch up on... the good, the bad and the ugly.  So we chatted as we power-walked the shoreline. The sound of the waves and the cool breeze reminded us that God was with us. Right before our walk, we shared a devotional together that included Psalm 73:23...

"Yet I am always with you;

you hold me by my right hand."

Ahhhh... God is good! It's funny how a simple verse can be so powerfully calming.  I must admit, it is wonderful having a best friend... someone to relax and have fun with... someone to talk to about anything and everything... someone to pray with... someone to believe with.  

But even better is knowing that God is upholding both me and my friend.  Because GOD is GOD!  He's not a man.  He's divine.  He's all powerful, all knowing, all present.  

"With Him all things are possible."

Matthew 19:26

 He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. It all belongs to Him. Everything.  Everything on the earth... and beyond.  It's His creation.  He can do anything He wants.  He can move mountains.  He can move men. It's God that gives leaders their positions.  It's God that gives favor to whomever He desires.  In the end, "every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!" (Philippians 2:10-11).

As I walked the dog tonight, I looked up into the dark sky at the bright, round moon.  Wow!  There's no doubt that I serve an awesome God.  Just looking at all those stars, I was reminded to never give up hope.  What a Mighty God I serve!   

There are many things God has spoken to me... even promised me.  Like Mary, the mother of Jesus, I ponder them in my heart continually.  I pull them out from time to time and remind God  that I haven't forgotten about them, that I'm still waiting.  Then I tuck them in the bank of my heart where they are safe until the appointed time.

I know that God's promises ride on faith.  Some promises are fulfilled right away, while others I have to wait for.  I hate waiting!  I live in the day and age of instant gratification. (The McDonald's drive-thru mentality).  That mentality doesn't faze God in the least.  He doesn't operate that way.  He's on His own time table.  I've come to learn that when it comes to the promises of God, I have to catch His wave, get on His time table, and ride it out (by faith) to the end.  And yes... that does mean waiting!  

But God is a Promise Keeper.   I know that.  The Bible says...

"God is not a man that he should lie,

nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.

Does he speak and then not act?

Does he promise and not fulfill?"

Numbers 23:19

So I am holding on to Hebrews 11:1

"Faith is being sure of what we hope for

and certain of what we do not see."

I know that His name is "Faithful and True"  (Revelation 19:11).  I love that!  I love Him!  He has shown himself to me, over and over again, (for 30 years), to be consistent in His faithfulness.  So I have no reason to believe that He will change now.

Waiting.  Praying.  Believing.  

Waiting.  Praying.  Believing.  

Waiting.  Praying.  Believing.

I can do that! 

My RED shoes will help me.

They'll continually remind me that...

He is always with me!

and that as I walk with Him, 

I am holding onto his right hand. 

Gail

Day 57

Today is Day 57 of  The Red Shoe Project.  I slipped on my RED shoes and headed out the door early this morning to attend my weekly, women's Bible study.  I love this group!  It's composed of  twelve women and one God!  Today, I was teaching on "Going Deeper with God" out of Ezekial 47: 1-7.

Since The Red Shoe Project has me looking for God on a daily basis, it's not difficult to come up with more than enough material to teach or write about.  The difficulty is often deciding which, of the many things God gives me, is the one thing  that I should blog about that day.

Late last night,  I took a short break from writing to watch a video clip, with my daughter.  It was the testimony of Heidi Baker,  a Christian woman who is used mightily by God all around the world.  While watching that, I was  suddenly reminded of a powerful vision that I had just days earlier while I was visiting a local church.  How I could have forgotten this, I'll never know, but suddenly, it all came to the forefront of my mind.

As I stood in the church, worshipping the Lord with the congregation, I closed my eyes to shut out any distractions. Once again, I found myself, in that secret place of my mind, that I often go, to be with God. Here's the picture that was presented to me in that place:

 I was standing neck deep in a pool of water.  

The arms of The Father were reaching towards me.  

He  beckoned me to swim underwater to Him.  

He said I'd enjoy it!

It was such a comforting vision.  I sensed the love of God surrounding me.  I wanted so much to swim underwater into my Daddy's arms.  But I hesitated.  Like a child learning to swim, thoughts flooded my mind.  Could I make it?  What would happen if I put my head under the water.  What if I couldn't touch bottom?  Would I drown?  The picture vanished.

When I told my daughter of this vision, she responded, "Mom, That's from Ezekial 47!"  It was then I decided to investigate the scriptures further and present it as this week's Bible study topic.  Even though I didn't think about this passage at the time of the vision, it quickly came back to me.  Of course, I'd heard this preached many times by many ministers.  It's the story of God leading Ezekial into the river.  First he's ankle deep.  Then he's knee deep.  He's brought even further out into the water, until he's waist deep. Finally... if he wants to go further, he has to swim.

I've often heard "the depths of the water" paralleled with "our willingness to go deeper with God".   Deeper in commitment.  Deeper in our understanding of God's Word.  Deeper into ministry.  Deeper into the things of God.

Is God asking me to go deeper?

I'm convinced He is!  It seems I've come so far... "neck deep," even.  But now...  it's time for the next step of faith... To go completely under the water.  Yikes!!!

Completely, under water?  Fully immersed in Him?  Totally committed?  All the way?  Without reservation?  100%?  The whole kit n kaboodle? The full deal?  No holding back?  Wow!  Talk about the BIG plunge!

With that, I will come out...

Dripping wet!  Completely drenched!  Soaked to the bone!  Fully absorbed!  Baptised and beyond!  Saturated in the Spirit!  Totally Engulfed in His Love! 

 Hmmmmm. I have to admit, that does sound really nice.

It made me think about our hot summer days, here, in Florida.  Those days when the kids are in the pool.  I'm usually sitting nearby listening to them laugh and play, as they are cooled and refreshed by the water. They shout to me, "Come on in, Mom!" and as much as I'd love to,  I think of the inconvenience of it all.  I just did my hair.  If I go in the pool, I'll have to shower again... blow dry my hair again... and re-apply my make up.  I don't want to do all that.  So I sit back in my chair, beads of sweat dripping down my back.  I'll just watch from the sidelines.  I can do that another time.  

Only every time, another time comes along, 

I find myself saying the same thing.  

And I never do go in.

 Sure,  I look great... my hair is styled nicely... my make up is done perfectly, and I'm dressed fashionably, RED shoes and all...   But, I miss out!

So, what?  If God's calling for me to swim to Him, am I to not going to give it a go?   Really?  And for what reason?  Is that a good enough reason not to join God in the water?   He says I'll enjoy it!   Do I really want to miss out on this?   Do I want to trade God's way for my way?   I could just look good from the sidelines and let others participate.  But, that doesn't sound right... does it?  I don't think I can do that anymore.  No way!  Inside the depths of my heart, I hear the voice of a child shouting loudly... 

Watch out!  Here I come!  I'm going for it!  

Cannonball!!!

Won't you kick your RED shoes off and join me?

Gail