Serving the Lord
Hi Friends,
Today I want to share four visions that I received recently. I can see a re-occurring theme from the Lord. He wants us to know that we are here to serve him. We know that life is but a vapor. Each life comes and goes, and we only have these few years for the Lord to cause us to grow and mature spiritually. This earth is a place of testing. The Lord places us in families, and among friends, in both pleasant and hard circumstances. His desire is to mold and shape us into people who are devoted to him. There is so little time for the Lord to make us into someone he trusts to share eternity with him. If we choose to use this life for accomplishing our own dreams and goals, rather than seeing the greater purpose, we will not become the person that God has intended for us to become. The Lord is not looking for selfish, egotistical, money hungry individuals. He does not want to have, in heaven, people who cause strife, people who are greedy, envious, or those who slander others. God is not looking to have cheaters, liars, and the sexually immoral to surround him.
God is holy, and he wants people who love him to share in his heavenly kingdom. He wants people who will deny themselves for the benefit of others. He wants people who have put him first, before anyone and anything. So this is why I believe that God is giving me these visions. We must know that our time on earth is meant to test our loyalty and devotion to him. Our character will be seen and tested in the fires of life.
Jesus said, “The first and greatest commandment is this: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two, hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40
The Visions:
A Single Shoe
As I was praying Sunday morning, during intercession, I received this vision: I saw the top half, of a shoe in front of me. The shoe was natural in color, made of a soft suede. It had a smooth rounded toe, with the edge of the sole flush with the sides of the shoe, so the edge was unseen. The eyelets were very tiny without grommets. The shoestrings were very thin.
There was only one shoe. It would have been for the right foot. I looked for the left shoe, while in the vision, and saw just the upper portion of the left foot covered in a knitted sock. The scene was somewhat in shadow, so the sock appeared to be made of multiple tones of grey.
As I began to think and pray about the vision, I realized that there was a reason behind the shoe without its mate. This reason is found in the Biblical story of Ruth.
Ruth was a Moabite who married an Israelite, the son of Naomi. Naomi was a woman who left Israel with her husband and two sons, during a time of famine. They went to Moab to find refuge. During her stay, her husband died and her sons married Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah. After staying in Moab for ten years, her two sons also died, leaving all three women, as widows.
Naomi decided to return to her property in Israel, with Ruth accompanying her. Naomi saw one of her relatives by the name of Boaz, who owned his own land. She asked Ruth to go into his fields to collect what was to be left for widows, and the less fortunate. Naomi told her that she would be safe if she stayed with the other women and only went to her relative’s field.
Boaz was kind to Ruth, making sure that the field hands left her plenty to gather. After a time, he was approached by Ruth, who made it known to him, that she was willing to become his wife. Since she was Naomi’s daughter-in-law, Boaz could redeem Naomi’s property and take Ruth as his bride. Boaz would be considered the kinsman redeemer. However Boaz, was not Naomi’s closest relative, so he had to get permission from that relative, who would then agree to forfeit his right to redeem the property. Ruth was part of the package. The relative believed that having another woman under his roof would threaten the peace in his own home, so he was more than willing to allow Boaz to be the redeemer. This contract or agreement between the two men was finalized, by one giving the other his shoe.
“(Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions in Israel.)” Ruth 4:7
I believe that God was showing me in this vision, of the single shoe, that the Lord is our redeemer and that he purchased us with his blood shed on the cross. The Lord, as the redeemer, has the other shoe. We have been redeemed, and are his bride. “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law.” Galatians 3:13
“With your blood you purchased people for God from every tribe, language, people and nation.” Revelations 5:9
We are the church, the Lord’s bride. The shoe in the vision is a sign that the Lord leaves with us, to remind us once again: “You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
By this vision, he wants us to understand, that if we belong to him, we cannot act as though we are independent of him. The Lord is LORD.
Blue Toe Nail Polish
In the vision I saw two feet again, in both this vision and the other, I only saw the top half of the feet - just the toes. The nails were painted a deep blue.
The Lord has shown me lots of shoes and lots of feet! So, here we go again - more feet! Our feet represent our walk with God. The toes provide stability and allow for fluid movement. Without the toes, we would simply hobble about. It seems quite unnatural to paint the nails blue, but I suppose that the traditional red polish, is not natural either!
What is the Biblical meaning of the color blue? www.biblestudy.org/bible-study-by-topic/meaning-of-colors-in-the-bible/meaning-of-color-blue.html
Blue occurs 50 times, and only in the Old Testament. It can refer to:
God (Exodus 24:10, 25:3 38:18. Numbers 4:6-12, 2 Chronicles 2:7)
Royalty (Ester 1:6, Ezekiel 23:6, Jeremiah 10:9)
Riches (Ezekiel 27:7, 24) and
Service to God and godly living (Exodus 28:6, 8, 13, 31, Numbers 15:38-40, Esther 8:15)
I believe that the meaning of the blue on the nails would be the last interpretation: “Service to God and godly living.”
If we have been bought with a price, we are to “honor God with our bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:20 This means to serve God wholeheartedly. God expects us to live according to his ways, to live as to please him.
“Therefore, I exhort you, brothers, through the compassions of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy to God, well-pleasing, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1
What is a living sacrifice? I believe it is a life that has been laid down for the Lord. It is about self-denial, and sacrificing one’s desires, in preference for the Lord’s will.
Toe nail polish is not particularly durable. It must be re-applied from time to time. I believe this is also true of the Christian life. We must dedicate, and re-dedicate ourselves to the Lord, particularly in those times when following him goes against the crowd, or against our flesh and its desires. We must continue to bring back to our remembrance that the Lord redeemed us, and that we belong to him! It is the continual reminder of the Holy Spirit, that keeps directing us to seek God, to stay the course. It is the one who overcomes, that receives the prize: “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.” Revelations 3:22
A Woman Wrapped in a Red Sheet
In this vision, I see someone who I assume is a woman, wrapped up in a red sheet. Even though I cannot see through the sheet, I believe that she is lying down with her face, to the ground.
The woman represents the church, or all believers. (If it were a man, it would represent all mankind.) The red again as before, represents both sin, as well as the blood of Jesus, that cleanses us. She is lying prostrate on the ground as a sign of humility and worship.
Because I do not see even a small bit of her, that she is entirely covered, it represents the ability of the Lord’s shed blood, to remove all sin. We are no longer seen as sinful in the eyes of God, for when our sins are covered, (and completely removed), the Father sees us as having the righteousness of Christ. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
Just as the dead are covered in a sheet, when no box or coffin is available, the red sheet speaks of death. “When you were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses.” Colossians 2:13
The vision of the woman lying prostrate on the ground, reminds me of Mary Magdalene, who with tears of thankfulness and devotion, poured out her love for the Lord, with the contents of an alabaster jar. She showed her gratefulness for his mercy, by kneeling at his feet and anointing him with perfumed oil, probably the most valuable thing she owned. She gave to him without measure, or concern for its cost, for her salvation and the love shown to her, was more precious than anything else in the world.
God is asking us, as the Church to love him, to honor him, to give him our hearts and our full devotion.
A Deer on the Second Floor
Just yesterday, as I was praying for the interpretation of these visions, I suddenly heard the sound of bleating like a lamb or a goat. I looked up, while still in the vision, and saw a deer on the second floor where I live. The deer was facing the wrought iron railing overlooking the first floor lounge where we pray every Saturday morning.
I was surprised to see a deer in the building. What was it doing here? Was the deer making the bleating sound that I heard? I questioned, “Does a deer bleat?” I found the answer on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK7cXv9gqoE
Yes, a young deer will bleat for its mom. It sounds very much like a lamb or a kid goat. So why was the deer bleating? Was it a call of distress?
In the vision, the young goat was more like a teenager than a baby. Its back would have been waist high. There were no visible antlers. The deer looked as if he were lost, bewildered as to how to get out of the building. The railing and the distance down to the first floor, kept him from jumping. That was the end of the vision.
I believe that God was showing me people who are not believers, but are in distress, not knowing where to go or how to become free of their problems, issues, and torments. Little do they realize: “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17
To know Jesus is to know freedom. Yet, even in the Church, there are people plagued with problems they seem to be incapable of overcoming. “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth shall set you free.’” John 8:32
“I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10
On another occasion, Jesus was handed the scroll of Isaiah, where he read this passage about himself: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:19
Many people look to gain relief from the stress and torments in their lives by methods which do not help and do not deliver. Often the things they use to calm their spirits are really detrimental. Alcohol, drugs, over-eating and shopping are not healthy solutions. There is a great need for the Church to be the hands and feet of God. The Lord taught his disciples about the kingdom of God, but he also sent them out among the people to do his work. “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:8
The Lord does not want us to sit on our hands and do nothing. He does not want us to waste time, with meaningless distractions. He gives us power through the Holy Spirit, but it is up to us to utilize that power. “I have given you authority to trample snakes and scorpions and to overcome the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” Luke 10:19
The Lord expects us to use the talents, (money, power, gifts) that he gives us for his purposes. This is the parable of the talents, with which you may be quite familiar:
A landowner was leaving on a trip and called in three of his servants. He gave them varying amounts of money to invest, according to their abilities. The two given the most, were able to double their investments, which pleased the owner. However the man given a single talent, out of a lack of interest, or concern, hid the money, and merely returned it to him. The owner was quite angry with the man for his lack of initiative. He should have placed the money where it would have earned interest.
The Lord told the disciples this parable, because he wanted them to understand that we will all be held accountable for what the Lord has given us in terms of gifts, talents and resources. What we have been given is not to be solely for our benefit, but rather, for the benefit of the kingdom of God. The Lord will not look the other way when it comes to our excuses. The Lord will probably respond in the same manner as the owner did in the parable: “You wicked lazy servant! So you knew that I harvested where I have not sown and gathered where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.”
“Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 25:26-30
So we need to be concerned for others, for their salvation and well-being. God will provide what we need to do his will. He is faithful and will equip us. When we are sent out by him, he will empower us to do things that we can’t do in the natural, or under our own strength. He wants to show himself powerful, so that he receives the honor and praise.
“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12
“Indeed, if anyone gives you even a cup of water because you bear the name of Christ, truly I tell you, he shall not lose his reward.” Mark 9:41
What I believe is that the deer in the vision represents someone who needs our help, someone who needs deliverance, or perhaps salvation, to know the love of God expressed with human hands and hearts, someone who needs the comfort we can give. God wants us to be people who are so moved, as to deny our own interests, and look to the welfare of others.
James describes this well. “Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
Let us simply make ourselves available to Jesus. It is a simple thing. It is not to be a burden. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:29-30
When we please the Lord, by answering his call, and doing his will, we find our joy in him!
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Be Blessed!
