What is ‘Shoes For The Spirit’ and what does it mean?

‘Shoes for the Spirit’ is a book that will guide you in your personal journey. It contains over 50 real- life inspirational and motivational stories of ordinary people from all walks of life who have encountered personal difficulty and have found the tools to walk through their journey with a victorious outcome.

‘Shoes’ is a metaphor for the passage. We all wear different shoes at different times in our lives- and it’s important to know what shoes to put on for the specific path ahead of us. ‘Shoes For The Spirit’ offers that guidance to the reader.

If you are looking for the path to overcome anger or depression, and to step through stress or to walk through jealousy, then ‘Shoes For The Spirit,’ is the book for you. If you desire to forgive those who have offended you, and to triumph over issues of rejection- if you want to walk in physical health and come to a true understanding of the benevolence of God, then ‘Shoes For The Spirit’ is a wonderful tool in your life’s journey. If you are interested in purchasing ‘Shoes For The Spirit,’ please use the link below.



PURCHASE SHOES FOR THE SPIRIT FROM
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BOOK SAMPLES 1-3

#1
"Trampling Fear"

Not long ago, a hurricane threatened to rip through Florida, smashing the Keys and coming precariously close to our home. The weather forecasters were busy spewing information on technical facts and figures of wind velocity and torrential rains. Clueless as to what all these facts and figures meant, we were certain of one thing; we were in trouble. We sat glued to the television for any hopeful bit of news to comfort our turbulent emotions. With every new bit of information the forecast became bleaker. “Are we going to die, Momma?” my little son asked in fearful innocence. “Of course not, sweetheart. Don’t be afraid. We will all be fine.” But, I wasn’t completely confident we would be. The thought of losing our home and all the precious things in it was truly frightening. This was a tangible, undeniable fear; one we were completely unaccustomed to and emotionally unprepared for.

We spent long hours removing pictures from walls, lifting furniture to higher places, wrapping the legs of heavy beds in plastic bags and packing my children’s belongings for the northward trek. Each toy was examined thoughtfully; realizing the ones left behind may face a sad demise. Such simple decisions can seem insurmountable when danger is the motivation. We wanted to get as far away from the monstrous storm as possible and still save as much of our home as we could. In its disheveled state, our house looked like it did when we were first moving in; sad and strangely chaotic. We didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I turned to take a last glance as I walked out the front door, and an overwhelming sense of helplessness spread its sickening tentacles over my heart. What would we find upon our return? It was all I could do to shut the door and turn the key in the lock. “You will be kept in perfect peace when your mind is steadily trusting in God.” Isaiah 26:3. How do you keep your mind in perfect peace, when your world is collapsing around you? The one thing that kept us sane through the turmoil was the past experience of God’s unfailing ability to provide for our needs. His track-record was, so far, unchallenged.

Many people were praying for a miraculous turn of events, and much to my relief and amazement, the hurricane took a sudden and unpredicted westerly spin out to sea, leaving our city intact. We all jumped for joy, dancing in a hysterical circle of relief in the bedroom of the Holiday Inn, while tears spilled down my cheeks. I felt my shoulders relax from the tension holding them erect over the past five days, and we took our first easy breath since the initial storm warning.

The “things” in my world–my house, land, and possessions–are so temporal. None of them will be my companions on the final ship out of here. Nothing I own can comfort my heart or rescue me in times of need. I have learned an important truth in all of this; when trust is my guide, fear has to take the back seat.

“Hey Mom, hurry up, I’m gonna be late for the soccer game.”
“Yeah, yeah, just give me a minute while I throw this load of wash in,” Mom replies.
“Can we stop by the mall on the way so I can buy these great jeans I saw on sale? You know I need them, ‘cause school is starting next week!” the daughter begs. “I’ll be right there honey, your cat just threw up all over the new rug,” Mom moans. Sound familiar? We spend so much time doing seemingly important things. The days, weeks and months whip by much like the wind through the leaves of the trees. We don’t see it coming, and we don’t see it go. Granted, much of what we do is necessary. If we don’t work, how will we eat and pay our bills? Who will take care of our homes, cars, yards, and other responsibilities if we don’t? The kids have homework, ballgames, and a large assortment of social activities to accommodate.

All of these obligatory and time-consuming tasks can prevent us from recognizing the big picture. Sometimes we confuse all we do as an indication of our love. It’s almost as though we placate our conscience with the pure multitude of responsibilities we offer in place of our affection.

My expectations of my own task-oriented personality can often take the place of my demonstration of love. You know the hugs, kisses and kind words. I have to remind myself of the necessity to express my heart. I love my children fiercely, even when they don’t live up to the plans I may design for them. If their choices are not stellar, I still need to let them know how dear they are to me.

I have come to attach great value to the moments I spend with my teenage daughter, just to hold her and listen to her talk–grateful that she’s willing to spend time with me. The joy in her face tells me all I need to know. She wants this connection with me. The pleasure of gifts, clothes, and other “stuff” can’t compare to one-on-one quality time with her.

Why is it we get lost in the doing and hide behind the schedules that so entrap us? When all is said and done, the only thing anyone will remember is our love, or lack of it. The world moves too fast, expecting everyone to run in the same swift race. But if we run the race to the finish line and there is no one there to greet us, what do we really have to be proud of?

I recently read a story about a man who spent every possible moment in a quest toward financial success and independence. Robert’s days were 12- to 15-hour marathons and every weekend merely an extension of the week. His wife and children stood at the door of his home office with imploring faces and begging hearts, sometimes tearfully expressing their need for time with their dad. He always made promises, but rarely, if ever, kept them. The boat trips were cancelled, the camping adventures cast aside. Each year, the business monster crept stealthily in and stole more and more of his precious seasons, until one eventful day his oldest son Chad, the clever one, the one most like him, was tragically killed in a car accident. As irony would painfully have it, the accident occurred the same weekend Robert was to have spent fishing with this boy. Again, the weekend was cancelled due to work.

It is incredibly important to take time to touch, speak into, and invest ourselves in the lives of others. Can we be willing to set aside our own agendas long enough to reach the hearts of those we encounter in our daily lives? This is what the above verse is all about. If we re-evaluate our lives and find our time is consumed in non-personal, non-intimate ventures, it is definitely time to turn the beat around. Rewind the tape and stop the whirlwind of life long enough to develop, re-establish, and nurture relationships that possess eternal benefit. How can we do that?

“But Mom, I’m gonna be late for the soccer game!” the daughter whines. “Sorry, but I gotta have a hug from my girl before you head out that door!” Mom says, with a smile. Seek a warm embrace today. Tell someone, “I love you,” and mean it. Put an affectionate arm around the shoulders of loved ones and comfort them. The only thing we can take with us when we depart this planet is our love for God, benevolence toward others, and acceptance of ourselves. Let’s talk about love.

The four kinds of love are agape, phileo, eros, and storge. The first and best known is the Greek word agape. This type of love is based on deliberate choice and unconditional resolve. Agape is God’s kind of love toward us. If we truly agape someone, we are far more concerned with their needs and wants than our own. Their welfare is pre-eminent in our thoughts and hearts. This is not a love based on emotion or affection, but decision. We don’t ask “What’s in this for me?” But rather, “How can my life serve yours and bless you in some way?”

Phileo love is one of affection and friendship. The feelings that go along with phileo love are ever changing in intensity. Highs and lows, waves of emotion come and go with phileo love. Underlying the changes is a constant affection. A lot of marriages are based on phileo love. When the intensity shifts to a less pleasant level, the marriage is thought to be no longer viable. This is why we see a lot of people seeking divorce. There is no resolve or decision to love, but rather the pure affection based on feelings. This is not to say feelings are wrong or unimportant, but that they are simply another dimension of love. The strongest relationships we can possibly have are a beautiful weave of both phileo and agape. Choosing to love unconditionally will naturally bring feelings into play over the course of time. Whether the intensity of emotion is high or low, the decision to love brings solidity and consistency, which is a rewarding outcome.

Eros love is the one most readily accepted and sought after in our society. This love is best described as sexual passion, physical gratification, heat, desire, and arousal. It’s a beautiful thing between two people who are committed to each other for the long term. Sexual love is more than a binding together of the bodies, but rather a complete connection of the spirit and soul as well. Eros love outside of a committed relationship can be a very exciting proposition initially. Let’s face it; the desire to be intimate and sexual is an extremely strong force in all of us. However, God knows the importance of respecting this kind of love. We see in the Old Testament that the sexual act was representative of marriage. Likewise, when someone stepped into an adulterous relationship outside the marriage, God looked on this as a divorce. The spiritual ramifications that go hand-in-hand with eros love are profound. We literally become part of someone else’s spirit, and they become part of ours when the sexual act is completed. Marriage is the safe haven for eros love, and the place God intended it to be for our overall good?spiritually, emotionally and physically.

Lastly, storge love refers to the love between families: mother and child, father and child, brother and sister, and all extended parts of this group. The old adage “blood is thicker than water” is a perfect description of the storge kind of love. The tie that binds people together through their common family roots is storge love.

Hopefully, all of us will experience these four types of love. God’s essence encompasses them all, understands them all, and has planned them all to benefit and bless our lives.