Day 60

I woke up on this 60th  Day of  The Red Shoe Project and found myself staring at a pile of  RED shoes.  Red flats,  Red flip flops,  Red sneakers,  Red sparkle shoes were all in disarray, heaped on top of one another by my bedroom door.  "That's one powerful pile of shoes," I thought to myself.

Was this God giving me direction for the day? Was He already trying to speak to me?  I wasn't even fully awake yet.  I turned over in my bed, desperately hoping to get some Divine Words from Heaven.  "Where are you God?"  I whispered.  Flipping back over, there they were... the RED shoes,  all staring in my direction.  I just knew my answer from God was in that radiant heap of redness. This was going to be one of those days where I'd have to figure it out for myself.  "Okay,"  I thought,  "Better get started!"

Today was a day of exploration... a day of seeking God... a day of searching for answers.  Have you ever felt like there was something missing, but you couldn't quite put your finger on what it was?  Sometimes I get this strange feeling like there's something inside me -- something awesome -- that hasn't quite manifested itself yet.  I want to know what that secret gift is! What is the key that will unlock that mystery?

I thought about the pile of RED shoes.  My RED shoes are supposed to remind me to LOOK FOR GOD today.  Maybe a "pile" of RED shoes is over-emphasizing the point that today I should REALLY LOOK for GOD... and KEEP LOOKING.  Perhaps it's an encouragement not to give up,  no matter how difficult it may be?

Today was a little difficult. I listened to worshipful music, but couldn't quite break through. I went on a prayer walk, but still felt unresolved.  I watched inspirational clips on my computer, and as good as it all was... I couldn't quite find what I was looking for.

What I did find, though, 

was a great message about 

"Waiting on God."

A very small part of that message, (but one that I can't totally shake), was about "Patience."  I told you that I don't really like waiting.  Actually, I'm probably better at it than most. But as I said, we live in a generation of instant gratification, and in this case, it certainly doesn't help matters when it comes to waiting on God.  

The writer stated that  "We must be EXERCISED in waiting."

There's an interesting thought.  Waiting on God is more than just natural patience.  I may not complain about waiting on God.  And I may not get totally discouraged when things take so long.  But so what?  That's just average. That's just expected. That's the way it ought to be.  But if I'm looking to go to the next level of my faith in Christ... a higher degree of maturity so that God can use me in greater ways...   A patient spirit is a must!

 A "patient spirit"...

• is not fearful.  
• It doesn't worry while waiting.  
• It trusts God to the fullest. 
• It rests in knowing that God is working His plan.  
• So it doesn't rush God for an answer, or for a manifestation, or for the delivery of a promise.  

There's another interesting term that I discovered today.  It's called "The Law of Orderly Development." This is in reference to how God works out His plans in our life.  James 5:7-8 says...

"Be patient then brothers, until the Lord's coming.  

See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its 

valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn 

and spring rain.  You too be patient and stand firm, 

because the Lord's coming is near."

The farmer is patient because he understands the process. He knows that first he has to prepare the soil. Then he plants the seed.  Then he waters the crops and waits. The sun shines.  The rain falls.  Time goes by.  The crops grow.  Eventually there is a harvest!  And not a day sooner than it's meant to be.

I can see that God is building my "Patience" muscles through daily exercise.  With this kind of "Spiritual Body Building" God uses a special kind of weights called "DELAYS."  Delays force us to be patient.  They try us again and again.  So when I don't quite respond correctly, that's okay, because we'll practice again tomorrow.  

I'm shaping up while I wait on God.   Hmmmm... I wonder if I need some type of special RED shoes for that?  LOL.

Gail

Day 59

Day 59 of  The Red Shoe Project was like a chain of perspectives that linked themselves together from the moment I put on my RED shoes in the morning, until I took them off at night.

Do you remember making those paper chains for the Christmas tree when you were little?

Different colors of construction paper were cut into long strips.  The first strip was made into a circle by connecting the two ends together with a little paste. A second strip of paper was then fed through the circle and pasted at the ends, so that you had two connected circles. Another strip was then linked through the second circle, the ends pasted, giving you three circles.  The process continued until you had a long paper chain, which was put on the Christmas tree for decoration.

I've found that's how God sometimes speaks to me. He links things together throughout the day that ultimately present a message to me.  Today he linked people's "perspectives."

a "PERSPECTIVE"  is  

a point of view or 

a way of looking at something.

It's funny how several people can witness a particular event, but when you ask them what they saw, they all have their own unique perspective.  They all see things differently.  Sometimes their perspective is due to their geographical location... the angle at which they see the event happen.  One person may see things that  another person is blind to. People's perspectives  also tend to effected by their personalities, traditions,  experiences, friends' opinions and more. They all interpret situations differently. Sometimes one's perspective is correct.  Sometimes, however, it's only partially correct.  And even other times, it can be wrong. They may have made erroneous assumptions, or jumped to conclusions not based on facts.  Overall... 

I have found that listening to several 

people's perspectives on something can often

give me a more accurate perspective of my own.

So here's how God linked together various events throughout my day to speak to me:

1) While doing my morning devotion, I read how some people's PERSPECTIVE of God is like that of a judge.  They feel that God is always judging them on their lack of perfection. The devotional used John 3:16-17 to show the Biblical PERSPECTIVE of the character of God, which is quite different.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, 

that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, 

but to save the world through him." 

2) Later in the morning, I was facilitating a class in which we were discussing our PERSPECTIVES on God the Father.  The idea was presented that an individual's image of God The Father, is often molded, (positively or negatively), by the image they have of their own father. So if their own father was loving and protective, they see God as loving and protective. If their father was demanding and angry, they view God as demanding and angry. Once again, the point here is that one's PERSPECTIVE can be erroneous.  The character of God the Father is not the same as one's earthly father.

3)  We then took that idea to the fathers in the group and reminded them that their kids would be forming a unique PERSPECTIVE of God the Father, based on them. (LOL.  There's a challenge!)

4) After the group, I had lunch with a good friend of mine.  Amongst the many things we discussed she brought up the idea of eventually expanding my PERSPECTIVE in some of my writing. I must admit, I was a little defensive at first, but told her I would consider her thoughts on the matter.

5) Later in the afternoon, I had attended a small group meeting in which we were discussing two opposing PERSPECTIVES on connecting with God.  One person noted that it was very difficult to try to connect with an invisible God that he couldn't see or touch.  Knowing that this individual desperately wants to make that Divine Connection, I encouraged him to talk to and watch those who are connecting with God for their PERSPECTIVE on things.  He is such a living example of how some people are blind to what others see.

6) After giving this great advice on how to expand one's thinking by taking other people's PERSPECTIVES into mind, I  got to thinking...  Perhaps my friend at lunch was seeing something that I was missing?  At the very least, her thoughts to expand my PERSPECTIVE were worth my prayerful consideration.  Even if  I wasn't quite ready to expand my PERSPECTIVE, I should at least contemplate why she is thinking differently from me.

7) As I untie my RED sneakers and place them in the closet, I am heading off to bed, to talk with God about my writing.  It's time to find out what  His PERSPECTIVE is on all this.  I'm all ears now.  After all, He is the senior partner.  He tends to think much more "out of the box" than I do.  But I've noticed that His ideas are good... well actually, they're GREAT!

So  today's RED shoes walked me from one place to another, putting together a"chain of perspectives" that has led me back to God.  It seems I'm beginning to figure out how these RED shoes work.

Gail

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