Janelle started off by showing us a group of shoes. She said most women have many pairs of shoes ( I know I do!) and she shared some of the shoes she has in her own closet and how they can be related to our relationship with God:
Slippers- slippers are comfortable, slippers feel great. When you wear slippers you normally don't go out, you just stay in one place because it's comfortable. Our relationship with God can grow comfortable. You want to go out but what for? You are comfortable with where you are so why not just stay there? Even if you are told you need to change, you don't because it's too comfy right here.
Army boots- These boots are tough, hard, they symbolize discipline and routine. You wear these boots to get the job done, they are extremely durable. Our relationship with God can become routine like, where our relationship is a check list. Prayer: check Devotion: Check Worship: Check and it's almost like your relationship is a duty rather than a......relationship.
Flip flops- These shoes are very casual. I have a pair of flip flops that I personally go to even when it's a cold day. If I can't find them I think, "Oh man I have to put on real shoes." But at times, we put on flip flops so casually without even thinking about it and our relationship with God becomes so casual that we do things without thinking ( I went through that earlier where I started to loose focus and sight and almost fell off and God had to bring me back on)
Stiletto- These shoes are some of my favorite shoes, they are so colorful and big and shiny, they are just so good looking. But boy they can be a pain to wear! I love heels but after awhile they just flat out hurt my feet, it's difficult to wear them but man do they look good. And often our relationship with God becomes so painful and hard to deal with it, but we don't want to face truths of what is happening so we put on this image that on the outside we have it all together, we look all good and shiny on the outside but on the inside we are in pain. We are crying, hurting ad just wanting to get rid of it all but we don't want anyone to know it so we continue to act like we are doing ok, we keep up that "It's all good" image.
Rain boots- When storms come we pull out the good 'ol rain boot. Now these are not boots we put on often, only when a storm comes. God at times become our protection only during the storms because we feel that we do a pretty good job at protecting ourselves during everyday life that we only wear God during the storms. For me, I took it as I only run to God and make Him my protection and source of comfort when things get difficult, much like a rain boot, God is seasonal.
Shoes that are falling apart- We all have that one pair of shoe that we have worn so much that it's falling apart, it's like wearing a rag ( for me it was a pair of heels that the heel was worn down to the tip) With this shoe we are wearing, our relationship with God is barely a relationship at all, we are so worn down and falling apart that it's on the brink of being thrown out.
Athletic shoes- These are really good shoes. These shoes represent that we are active! We are moving, pushing hard, moving forward towards what God has for us. We are on the go and that's a great place to be - on the move! I always wear my best athletic shoes when I'm about to go on my longest and most enduring hikes. Janelle said and I agree that this is good place to be in with God, when you are moving with Him.
Nurse shoes- I don't have a pair of these shoes but I have seen them often out and about. Nurse shoes are white, they are clean and they can symbolize purity. With God, we can get to a place where we are pure at heart. My mom took the nurse shoes, you are healing with God, you are getting comfort. God is helping you heal and is nursing you.
Now of ALL of these shoes Janelle said a great combination to be at in our walk with God is to become the white tennies shoe.
White tennis shoe- these shoes are comfortable, durable, reliable, keeps us moving, they are ( like the nurse shoe) are pure and clean. We move into a place with God where our relationship is not about us but about loving God and loving others. We are moving with God, we are going and we are also examining ourselves along the way as we pursue him.
Yet often in life, circumstances will cause us to change our shoes - we have on our white tennis shoes but then circumstances happen and we change shoes. I can honestly say that in the year 2014 I have put on every single pair of shoes listed and it's only April so I clearly have some ground to cover and stability to gain. As circumstances in life happen, God wants us to keep our shoes on and keep going - don't let your faith change. God is constant so our faith in Him should remain constant. He's not to change His love for us and we need to walk by faith and keep going with Him.
As a reminder to walk by faith - all of the women received tiny shoe key chains. Mine is green ( favorite color!)
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