"Layers"

Stepping Out in RED Shoes!

- Day 30 -

How many layers of a lesson are there?

Today I spent the entire day taking care of some important paper work.  The other day, my mentor told me... "You need to work on that and get it done!"   Last night, the LORD told me,  "You need to do whatever she instructs you to do!"  That settled it.  Today was an office day and I've almost completed the task.

Meanwhile, I'm still working on accomplishing something God has asked me to do.  I'm not dragging my feet, it's just a task that takes time.   Tomorrow, both tasks will be finished, and I can get back to what I love most -- focussing on Christ!  I'm loving my time in prayer.  I can't get enough of it these days!

Obedience  is  (1) the adhering to and following through on someone's wishes, orders, or acknowledgment of their authority.  (2) submission to instruction, a law or rule.

Simply stated...  

It's doing what you're told.

Tonight at The Bonfire,  it dawned on me that we never stop learning.  Tonight's attendees are all in different places in their Christian walk.  Some are newbies.  Some are teens.  Some have been around a while.  And still others have been around longer.  No matter what our topic may be, everyone has a story to tell.

Take "Giving"  for example.  The "Newbies"  may testify about how God impressed upon them to start tithing.  (That's the first layer).  The "Teen"  may talk about how they are sensing the need to go above and beyond their tithing -- perhaps even giving sacrificially.  (Layer 2)   The Christian who's been around awhile -- they're planting seeds in other ministries, expecting a harvest. (Layer #3)   And the "Salty Dog?"   They're the one who sits back and smiles a lot.  They are enjoying the bounty of many harvests. (Still another layer of learning!)

All of them have interesting thoughts and testimonies to share - regardless of where they're at.  I realized that I've been in every one of those places -- many times -- and I'm still learning.  Once you master one layer, it's time to go to the next.  I don't think the layers ever end!

I got to thinking about how important obedience is in all this.  Whether it's your teacher, or "The Teacher of Teachers" - The Holy Spirit -- that's given you instruction, you've got to follow through.  It's not enough to understand the blueprint of it all.  That's just head knowledge.  You have to do it!

There have been times in life that I thought I totally understood something.  Then, when I got around to doing it, I realized that reading about something and actually doing it were two different things!  Take skating for example.  You can read about it.  You can see it on television.  You can even watch your kids do it.  But lacing up those skates on your own two feet and getting out on the ice yourself, is another thing entirely!  

When it's your first time

-- it ain't pretty -- 

if you know what I mean.  

You don't just float along the ice.  You have to learn balance.  Was that even mentioned in the instructions?  There's a lot of things that aren't written down in the instructions.  You learn them as you go.   Eventually you get the swing of it -- you get in the groove.  That's when it gets fun.

The Red Shoe Project  finds me continually going through the layers.  Daily, I'm learning, being tested -- sometimes making mistakes and trying again -- practicing over and over until I get it,  looking for assurance and correction when needed, and eventually mastering that layer!  It's a lot like ice skating!
Then I'm off to work on something else for awhile.  It's only a matter of time, though, and I'm back to that same thing working on the next layer.

Today, I caught a glimpse of the fact 

that I'm moving into some advanced layers.  It's scary, but exciting, none the less!

In RED shoes, 

Gail