Two Shoes
Hi Friends,
Today is a beautiful day. It is Memorial Day, the day when we remember those who gave their lives to defend our nation, our God-given rights and our Constitution. We pray for the families of those who died. And we pray for our soldiers and military men and women that are faithfully defending our nation today.
We also remember that our nation was dedicated to God at its founding. Therefore, we thank the Lord for his hand of provision and blessing throughout our nation’s history.
Today, we seek the Lord’s mercy and forgiveness, for our nation has lost its moral compass. Truth and the Word of God, was the foundation upon which our laws were originally established. Today we seek the Lord’s help to return to him. We pray that his will will be done on this earth, as it is in heaven. Hallelujah!
“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
I have three visions that I would like to share with you.
The Visions
The Acrobats
I saw a group of five people who were practicing an acrobatic stunt. There were three people holding a person up in the air by his feet. The “flier” (the one in the air) was held by two people supporting his right foot and one supporting his left. The flier faced backward. While standing erect, high in the air, he suddenly threw his head and upper body back. A fourth person caught the flier’s head in his hands. The flier’s back bent to form an arch with his head supported at one end and the right foot supported by the first two acrobats. The flier’s left leg was released by the third acrobat, so that his leg and foot pointed straight up.
In the vision of the acrobats, the flier did something that was so unexpected. He threw his head and body back, without any thought. His confidence was in his team’s ability to catch him before his head would hit the ground.
This vision brought to mind so many things. It reminded me of a child who did not want to be held. We all have seen how children will cry and fuss and throw their heads back trying to escape the arms of their parents. Even though they do this, they are not aware of the danger that could befall them should they actually escape their parents’ grasp. A child that lands on his head from a height several feet off the floor could result in a severe head trauma, or spinal cord injury. In their rebellion, they are completely oblivious to the danger in which they put themselves.
Years ago, I saw a woman struggling against a rebellious child in her arms. He wiggled free and went over her shoulder, falling towards the ground. She extended her arm over head, bent her back and caught the child by the leg just inches before hitting the ground. Wow! What an amazing feat! That was truly the grace of God in motion! Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus, that you kept your angels around that child!
I want to share a scripture that came to mind when I saw this vision. It was the passage that tells of the devil tempting the Lord in the wilderness, after the Lord had fasted for forty days.
The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Luke 4:9-12
The devil tempted Jesus by asking him to prove his identity. But Jesus did not take the bait. Jesus came not only as God in the flesh, but with purpose in the flesh, to carry our pains, our suffering and our iniquities:
“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering” Isaiah 53:9
“He will bear their iniquities.” Isaiah 53:11
“For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53:12
The Lord did not come to please himself, but to do the will of the Father.
“For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.” John 6:38
As believers, without realizing it, we can go our own way and do our own thing, to our detriment. The Lord said to me once, “I keep my angels around you, but you go your own way.” That was a terrible testimony about me. And at the time, and every time I think of this, I am grieved by my own willfulness. It is rebellion to not do what the Lord commands. There is no doubt times when we have weak moments and allow the flesh to have its way. This can happen for many reasons, one of which is pride. When we are prideful, and are intent on making our point, we can become argumentative.
“But reject foolish and ignorant speculation, for you know that it breeds quarreling. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 2:23-25
“The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means that you are thoroughly defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?” 2 Corinthians 6:7
Doesn’t the scripture tell us to live at peace with each other?
“If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” Romans 12:18
Of course we are not to compromise with evil, or give place to sin in our lives. We are to stand for truth and righteousness, and uphold the word of God at all times. We can show love and respect for each other, while still sharing the word of God.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
In the vision, the man threw himself into the air, expecting that someone would catch him. This demonstrates the trust that he had in his teammates. We are instructed to trust the Lord in all things—but not to put him to the test.
Can we trust the Lord with our loved ones who are going their own way? Can we trust God for our provision, for our healing, and for our future? Can we trust him for our protection in regards to a government that is setting our nation on fire?
“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” Psalm 55:22
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31
Let us focus on the Lord rather than on the problems that we face.
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3
That is an important scripture, so let me repeat it again!
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3
The Two Shoes
In the second vision, I saw two shoes. One shoe was lime green and white and pointed forward. The other shoe was dark, and pointed backward. A large, heavy woman came up to look at the shoes. She picked up the dark shoe and examined it. Even though there was a light on the lime colored shoe, she showed no interested in it, nor did she use the light to see the shoe that she held in her hand.
The meaning of the vision:
In the vision the lime colored shoe was seen in light, and the other shoe was surrounded by darkness. The lime colored, casual shoe faced forward. The dark shoe was displayed going in the opposite direction.
The color green has a Biblical meaning. It represents new life, immortality, and resurrection, all wonderful, godly things. The shoe represents our walk with the Lord. When we are born again and filled with his spirit, we experience a new life in him.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
We are promised to be raised to life again at the resurrection, at the last trumpet. And at that time we will be clothed with immortality:
Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-54
The lime colored shoe was shown in the light. The Lord tells us to walk in the light.
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7
The dark shoe in the vision was located in the shadows, away from the light. Its details and exact color were hidden. The dark shoe faced backward to represent a walk in life that goes the wrong way. It represents an evil or wicked walk, or a walk away from God.
The woman in the vision was not interested in the lime shoe, but picked up the dark shoe to examine it. She did not bring the dark shoe into the light to see more clearly, or to expose its details, but kept it in darkness where everything is obscure.
“And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” John 3:19-20
The woman avoided the light. She represents all that is rebellious toward God and his ways.
“If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” 1 John 1:6
She is like so many people today, who have no desire to know and embrace the truth. They have no desire for God nor for anything that he represents: holiness, righteousness, godliness, mercy, love, goodness, faithfulness…. The shoe she chose was dark, representing her walk in life as one that turns away from God. It is a path of sin that leads to death and to hell. It is a walk of rebellion, loving the things of the world, in preference to God. She represents those that are spiritually dead.
Had she simply turned around, she would have seen the light. Repentance means to turn around, to go the other way.
Yet, the Lord gives us freewill. We can choose what to make of our lives. What will be a priority and what will not. Everyone will choose for themselves.
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, and that you may love the LORD your God, obey Him, and hold fast to Him. For He is your life, and He will prolong your life in the land that the LORD swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20
In the Book of Joshua, Joshua tells the people to make a decision. “Choose whom you will serve!”
“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15-16
Let us choose to follow the Lord Jesus.
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6
The Eye Glasses
I received this vision, when I was struggling to understand something that the Lord had given me a week ago. I kept praying for insight and revelation as to the meaning of the vision. Then while praying, the Lord gave me the vision of the eye glasses:
I saw a man, who smiled at me, and gave me a pair of glasses.
I know that the Lord gives me the ability to “see,” and to understand the meaning of the visions, as I seek him in prayer. Once he told me, “Look for my signature.” He was asking me to understand and appreciate what belongs to him, his character, his manner and his pictures and what is contrary to him.
We look at signatures to authenticate a document, or to give approval or consent to what is outlined. The signature is given to authorize an action or to show acceptance or agreement with what is presented.
I see the Lord’s signature in the pictures that he gives. His pictures are easily distinguished from those that come from a wicked source. His pictures are sometimes clear as in the vision of the “two shoes.” But just as often, they can be very difficult to understand. There are times when I will pray for days before its meaning is revealed.
The Lord’s signature is important, because not everything comes from him. We have imaginations, and we have the enemy that would like to use our spiritual gifts for his purposes.
So we must seek the Lord to confirm that the vision has come from him, and not from our own imaginations, from our deceitful hearts, or the deceiver himself.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9
Most times the Lord will give me a corresponding scripture that reveals his intent. But it is always prayer and his word that will confirm the message.
If you want to hear from God for yourself, you need to commit yourself to knowing him, to spending time alone in his presence and reading his word. He told me once, “The more you know scripture, the more I can reveal to you.”
He wants to communicate with us. He wants to share his heart, but we have to make ourselves available.
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.” Matthew 23:37
And:
“I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me.
To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’
All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations—to a people who continually provoke Me to My face, sacrificing in the gardens and burning incense on altars of brick…” Isaiah 65:1-3
The Lord has shown us how much he desires our fellowship and for us to be right with him. He sent his one and only son Jesus, to die in our place, so that we would not suffer eternal damnation, but that through belief in him we might have eternal life. God is good. He is faithful. He loves us. When all is said and done, what else is there? Only God can satisfy the longing in our hearts for love and fellowship. Everything else is passing away.
One day we will stand before him. Don’t we want to hear these precious words:
“Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!” Matthew 25:23
But if we do not know him, and we do not keep his word, we may hear something quite different.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23
What is most important is to know the Lord and to love him with all your heart. Soloman, the wisest person that was or would ever be, summed up what he considered to be the most important thing in life:
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13
Let’s consider our ways remembering that:
“Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”
Luke 16:10
So, let us turn to him and be saved. Let us turn to him and have life!
Pray with me, if you are ready to receive him:
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for dying on the cross for the sins that I have commited. I come to you today with a repentant heart. I choose to turn away from my heart’s sinful desires, to renounce all sin in my life. I want to be reconciled to you.
You are God and there is no other. You are one God and are at the same time three in one: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
I confess my sin to you today and ask for your forgiveness.
I believe with all my heart that after you died, you were raised from the dead. I believe too that I will be raised to life with you and that I will be able to spend all eternity with you in heaven.
I thank you Lord, that you are making me a new creation. The past is gone, and all things have become new. I ask that you write my name in the Book of Life, and fill me with your Holy Spirit.
Thank you for forgiving me and removing my sin as far as the east is from the west. I thank you that you will remember my sins no more. Thank you Jesus that I am born again, born of the Spirit of God. Help me to live with you and fellowship with you every day and for always. I love you Jesus. I am now yours and you are now mine! Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!
Thank you for reading. I hope you will pray the prayer above, and come to know the Lord. He is good. Please share this with someone that you know needs the Lord, and with those that will be encouraged. The Lord will return someday. Let’s be watching and waiting for him! God bless you!
