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

It's Day 56 of  The Red Shoe Project and I have had several different pairs of RED footwear on throughout the day!  RED socks as I puttered around the house.  RED sneakers for my morning walk.  RED flip flops out in the garden. And RED suede flats as I headed out the door to facilitate a Bible class.  At one point, (between the flip flops and the flats), I totally kicked off my shoes, smiled as I glanced at my RED toe nails, and sat down at the kitchen table for lunch with my daughter.

I love breaking bread 

with someone special and 

discussing what God is doing 

in our lives.

Breaking Bread?  What's that?    Enjoying a meal together.  Conversing over a cup of tea or coffee.  Sharing Communion.   All of these suggest a time of intimate Christian fellowship... "koinonia." A huddling together, if you will, in uplifting verbal exchange.

With Someone Special?   Another Believer.  A Friend.  A Family Member.  A Fellow Servant of God.  Someone you care about.  Someone who cares about you!

Two is the minimum... because 2 is better than 1.

Why?    It's Someone to talk with.  Someone to listen to.  Someone to help solve the problem at hand. Someone who's smarter.   Someone to celebrate with. Someone who lightens the load.  Someone to confide in.  Someone to confess to.  Someone to uplift.  Someone who'll uplift you. That's Someone Special!

"Where two or three come together in my name, I am there with them". Matthew 18:20

 A two-some automatically becomes a threesome.  The Holy Spirit joins the group.  There are two or three of us, plus the addition of one Great GOD!  God brings with Him all His supernatural qualities and characteristics.  That means anything is possible!

Discussing what God is doing in our lives. Testifying of God's intervention.  Sharing God's secrets with one another. Lifting our voices in adoration and praise for what He has done!

I once heard a woman speak on divine healing.  She spent the first 1/2 hour sharing all her personal stories of how she, herself, witnessed God heal... her,  her family members,  her friends, and other people she met.  She proclaimed that she was "Stirring the Pot of Faith."  That's what happens when we share our testimonies with one another.  I stir the pot of faith for you and You stir the pot of faith for me.  My faith is increased in knowing that if  God did it for you, He can do it for me! and vice versa.


God is also glorified when we magnify his name and testify of His awesome works. We put Him in the spotlight for all to see.  We proclaim His Magnificence...  His Great Power...  His Great Love! We celebrate Our Victory in Him!  It's our way of Pointing to Him...  Pointing Him Out in the Crowd...  Elevating Him.  Lifting Him up for all to see!

These Great Times of Fellowship 

can often lead to 

Great Times of Prayer!

When two or more of us come together,  God joins the group...

"With men this is impossible, 

but with God All things are possible."

Matthew 19:26

As we testify of God's Mighty Works and His Goodness...

The Pot of Faith is stirred up within us... We BELIEVE!

"I tell you that if two of you on earth

 agree about anything you ask for,

 it will be done for you by my Father in heaven."

Matthew 18:19

My daughter and I finished our lunch together.  We took a look at some up-coming bills and placed them in the middle of the table. Locking our hands together across the table, we agreed that God is able, and asked for His Divine Provision.  Now,  we are believing together, and waiting in anticipation.  AMEN!

In RED shoes,
Gail