Day 147

Day 147 of The Red Shoe Project has me in comfortable RED walking shoes touring the city of Edinburgh, Scotland.  Our walking tour has covered several miles of Scotland's capital city, and no matter where we seem to stop, en route, we can see Edinburgh Castle sitting high above the land.  "What a stronghold!"  my sister commented.   Yes... it is truly a picture of Strength, Power and Protection.  It reminds me of the hymn penned by Martin Luther...

"A Mighty Fortress is our God

A Bulwark never failing..."

Bulwark - a defensive wall, a barricade, a fortification.

Fortress - a heavily protected and impenetrable building.

Impenetrable - impossible to pass through.


The Psalmist stated...

"Truly He is my rock and my salvation;

He is my fortress, I will never be shaken".

Psalm 62:6

Stronghold - a place that has been fortified or strengthened so as to protect it against attack.

"He is my loving God and my fortress, 

my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, 

in whom I take refuge, 

who subdues peoples under me."

Psalm 144:2

Fortification - a defensive wall or other reinforcement build to strengthen a place against attack.


King Solomon noted:

"The Name of the Lord is a fortified tower

The righteous run into and are safe".

Proverbs 18:10

"The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, 
a stronghold in times of trouble."
Psalm 9:9

At the end of the day, I look down at my worn out RED shoes.  My feet are tired.  My spirit is weary.  I think it's time to climb into The Word of God.  I know that I will find the Name of the Lord in that place.  I will find strength and security.  I will find protection from the onslaught of the enemy. Like Edinburgh Castle, I am safe there.

I'm just a soldier, like you, 

 in a battle not so different from yours, 

only I'm wearing RED shoes.

Perhaps you should consider them as a part of your uniform? 

Gail

Day 146

It’s Day 146  of  The Red Shoe Project.  I have packed my bags, put on my RED shoes and said goodbye to all of my Scottish relatives and friends.  There’s still a few days left in my journey abroad, but today I leave the little country cottage of Ashlea Manor and it’s beautiful garden behind.

I have hopped aboard a train headed for Edinburgh.  There’s an hour and a half ride ahead of me.  The scenery is simply beautiful.  I have nestled myself into the train seat and taken a deep relaxing breath. 

I am so looking forward to a good read.  I have pulled out the book I’ve been reading, Behold I Give unto you Power by Paul E. Billheimer and can’t quite find where I last left off.   

I start here on page 97… “There is an old consecration hymn upon whose wings many seekers, in years gone by, have been borne into the fullness of the blessing.  It has been almost forgotten and lost to the Body”

"Oh, God, my heart doth long for Thee;

Let me die, let me die;

Now set my soul at liberty;

Let me die.

To all the trifling things of earth,

They’re now to me of little worth,

My Saviour calls, I’m going forth;

Let me die.

Lord, I must die to scoffs and jeers;

Let me die, let me die;

I must be freed from slavish fears;

Let me die,

Unto the world and its applause,

To all its customs, fashions, laws,

Of those who hate the humbling cross,

Let me die.

When I am dead, then, Lord to Thee

I will live,  I will live.

My life, my strength, my all to Thee

I will give,  I will give.

So dead that no desire shall rise

To pass for good, or great, or wise,

In any but my Savior’s eyes;

Let me die,  let me die."

On this Sunday, May 26^th at 11:34 a.m.  I sit in Seat #60, Section M of the train going from Dundee to Edinburgh.  As I read this hymn I am ruined in the Spirit.  Sitting in this little seat, my soul is more than disturbed.  I want to hold it altogether for I’m right in the middle of a public place, surrounded by people, sipping tea and nibbling croissants, the picturesque scenery flashing by the train windows.  But it’s not working.  As my friend Jim would say… “I’m leaking.”   The tears are quietly streaming down my face. I look away from the people I am sitting with, in hope that they will not see me and disturb this most private moment with God.

I am crying because I so desperately want to be “SOLD OUT” completely for Christ.  It’s just something I must do.  Every time my soul cries out,  “Jesus, I want more!”  there is a piece of my flesh that shrieks as it shrivels up and falls to the ground.  The problem is that I recognize there’s still way too much flesh that's alive in my life. 

Flesh refers to the fallen ego, 

the self,  the soulish life.

My flesh is most ugly when God’s light shines upon it.  I cringe as I see my own self’s attempts to live a righteous life.  I am sick when I realize the trickery of my own thoughts, the deceptions on my own heart, the manipulation in wanting my own way.  Thank God that I don’t have to witness the fullness of my flesh day to day!  I see it only when He chooses to show me His perspective.

So much of this trip has been a test… a test to show me where I stand on things.  It’s easy to think I’m doing great.  (Why don't I just give myself a little pat on the back)   But it’s only when I’m tested that I can accurately see how I measure up.  And today I realize that I’ve got some work to do.  He’s still got plenty of work to do in me.  And He conveniently uses each day, and all it holds, 

to change me accordingly.

In time, 

Gail

P.S.  What I so love about this is that I later realized that I had already read that part of the book a few days earlier.  (Apparently, it didn't quite settle in.  LOL.)  Although I should have begun my reading four or five pages further along,  God saw to it that I didn't miss out on this life-changing moment with Him.  I love when that happens!  Don't you?