The Shoes Always Matter!

One of the joys in my life is teaching women how to embrace the purpose God has uniquely planned for their life. The catch phrase that I teach at our conferences is "Walk Out Your Destiny...in Stilettos, of course!". I love reminding women of who they are, why they are here, and encouraging them to recapture their femininity as well! I've had a great role model in my mom who was always fashionable and loved high heel shoes. So, this teaching comes quite naturally as does my love for a great pair of heels.

My love for shoes has been multiplied since becoming a Henderson. George has introduced me to such foreign shoes as hiking boots, snow shoes, shoes for sailing, rock climbing shoes, and trail shoes as well. Each are extremely important for being married to my rugged-outdoorsy husband. I refer to us as Indiana Jones meets Pollyanna.

When we were dating, I began joining George in his outdoor adventures. One afternoon, George invited me to go sailing with him. I was really excited especially since I had never sailed in my life. I remember showing up for our date in a cute outfit complete with a pair or high-heeled wedged sandals. As I was stepping onto the sailboat, I noticed George having a quizzical expression on his face. Naively, I jumped on the boat and thought my dreams of sitting on the sailboat watching the sunset were about to become a reality.

It wasn't long that I realized that there is very little romance in actual sailing. There was no pillow for me to sit upon while the boat magically cascaded through the water. I was suddenly thrust into feeling like Gilligan to the Skipper of the boat (George). I was quickly running back and forth from bow to stern pulling ropes (which had the muck of the water covering them), taking in anchors, tying knots in odd places and trying as best I could not to allow the boat to crash into the wharf while leaving the dock. Needless to say, the high heeled wedges were quickly thrown off in order to keep myself from plunging into the water or tripping over lines. After all, I was still trying to make a good impression!

Bottom line, the shoes matter.

Depending upon which area of journey you are facing, we need to wear the right pair of shoes to indeed "Walk in a manner worthy of our calling". If the path, so to speak, is rocky and rugged currently, you definitely need to wear your hiking boots and not flip flops!

Colossians 1: 9-14 says:
9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the)knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might,for the attaining of all steadfastness and ]patience; joyously 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.
13 [j]For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Notice the ingredients to successfully walk the course God has planned:
1) To be filled with the knowledge of His will (God's will for my life)
2) To have spiritual wisdom and understanding (Deeper truths)
3) Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord (Honoring)
4) To please Him in all respects (Pleasing God vs. pleasing others)
5) Bearing fruit in every good work (Our good works need to yield a harvest in other's lives)
6) Increasing in the knowledge of God (His ways, purposes, plans)
7) Strengthened with all power according to His glorious might (Not our strength or power - but His)
8) Attaining steadfastness and patience joyously (Joyous patience and diligence)
9) Giving thanks for the Father (Thankful heart)
10) Qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light (through our personal relationship with Him, we are adopted as His sons and daughters)
and finally, 11) He has rescued us from the domain of darkness, transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption and forgiveness of sins.

As we walk out the destiny God has planned for us, we can do so with such power and strength! Taking each step, we can realize that God is with us and for us. And through His word, His strength, power and provision, He has made sure that we have everything we need in order to finish the course well...including a great pair of shoes.

Steph