Day 11

The weekend is here and it’s day 11 of The Red Shoe Project.  Although my stock of RED SHOES is somewhat limited at this time, I continue to sport my RUBY RED footwear every day.  I must admit, I am getting good mileage out of these RED ballet flats from Target. They are perfect for a more casual and comfortable look while I keep my eyes open for additional necessary pieces to expand my shoe wardrobe.

Before hitting the road this morning, I made it a point to "fill up" (See Day 10). Shortly after that, I was reminded of something CRITICAL when pursuing a closer relationship with Christ:

When God calls... 

STOP what you're doing and answer the phone.

 That's right.  STOP what you're doing and answer the phone.  So often, God starts speaking to us, and we think, "That's a nice thought" and we continue about our business like it's no big deal.  We  think "I'll have to remember that!" and we move along. 

What are we thinking?  Are we for real?  Almighty God is talking to us personally and we're not phased a bit?  Are we so accustomed to His voice that we forget to give Him reverence? Or... do we carelessly allow God's voice to take a spot in line with all the other voices that fill our mind?

I'm not sure how we can take such a lackluster approach, at times, but I do know this...

If we don't stop what we're doing, right there and then, and enter into His presence and listen and receive what He has to say... then we are missing the mark!

Seriously... I've found God to be quite chatty at the most random times... when I first open my eyes in the morning, while brushing my teeth, while putting on my make up, while I'm sitting and reading, while I'm watching tv, while I'm driving the car, even while vacuuming the living room rug or doing laundry.  And during those times, when I stopped whatever I was doing, and sat down, and focussed my attention on Him and listened... He spoke POWERFUL messages to me that always had  TREMENDOUS EFFECTS on my life.  

And that's very much what this Project is all about!  The ultimate result should a Divine Relationship that's overflowing with in-depth, personal conversations with God.

Now that's something worth pondering and taking action on!

Gail

It's Day 10 of  The Red Shoe Project. My daily focus and awareness on The Holy Spirit has been strong and consistent... but in the middle of establishing this renewed, vibrant relationship with God, I decided to take a road trip that has brought me out of my normal routine.

I'm a long way from home for a few days, and although I am still faithfully adorning myself with RED SHOES,  I am already starting to "Run on Empty".  I'm in desperate need of a FILL UP!

While visiting family and friends, my schedule is not quite my own. After all, the purpose of the trip is to visit. I can't just stay in my room with God and not come out for hours on end. Ya know? As much fun as I may be having, I feel myself being drained of my spiritual energy. There's nothing wrong with that... but it's time to fill up now.

At first it was a challenge to think of how I could fill up. Then I remembered to stick to the basics and do what I can.

• I can start each morning with a prayer. Even if I can't pray for as long as I usually would, I can still take a few minutes to greet the Holy Spirit... to acknowledge Him and ask for His divine guidance and companionship throughout the day.

• I can always stay spiritually "connected" and whisper  my thoughts to Him continuously...even if it's  in the quietness of my mind.

• I can also take time before bed to read His Word and pray before I lay my head on my pillow.

I may have to get up a little earlier in the morning, or excuse myself a little earlier in the evening, but   that's ok. The fact is...

I'm missing my limitless "alone time" with Him.  

But my RED SHOES are doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing... they are reminding me to be BOLD in my fight for a deeper relationship with God. That's exactly what The Red Shoe Project is all about!

So, excuse me for checking out a little early tonight, I'm going to fill up my tank now.

Drinking at the Springs of Living Water,

Happy now am I.  My Soul's been satisfied.

I'm drinking at the Spring of Living Water,

What a wonderful and bountiful supply!

Gail

Day 9

My adventure in Red Shoes today took me over 100 miles from home, to participate in what's becoming an annual get-together of  "The Sisters"... me and my 3 former sister-in-laws, one of whom is my best friend in the whole world! This will be the 3rd year that we've all met together in sunny Florida, in early January, for a few days of total relaxation and girl time. It's not one of those vacation get-togethers where you're on the run all the time, trying to see all the local attractions, restaurants, etc.  That's too much work.  We meet to enjoy one another's company and get caught up with what's going on in each of our lives... which of course, since we're all moms, means getting brought up to speed on what's going on in all our adult children's lives... and for some, even grandchildren's lives.

We often sit around the kitchen table and play games for hours while we chat.  One of our favorite games is Boggle.  The boggle board is a small square board separated into 4 rows and 4 columns.  There's 16 small cubes that have a letter on each panel.  You shake them all up and drop them onto the board, so that one letter on each cube is facing up, and the players have to look at the board and find all the words that are displayed by connecting letters. (You get the picture).

Everyone has a set time to write down all the words they see.  When the time is up, each person reads off the words they found.  If more than one person has the same word, you scratch it off your list.  You only get points for the words no one else has.

What never ceases to amaze me is how many words are seen by the other players that I totally miss! And it's not a word or two. More often than not, it's a lot of words. How can we all take one minute to look at 16 letters on a board and see totally different things?

For example, in one game, after the 4 of us, scratched off all the words we had in common with one another, (and there were many), I still had 5 words that no one else had. And one of the other sisters had 8 words no one else had. Another had 6 words none of us saw. And still another had 9 words that no one caught.  How can that be?  How can we miss so much of what's right there in front of us?

"PERSPECTIVE"   

is what each person sees from their particular vantage point.  

With The Red Shoe Project, one of the things I never want to be blind to is the working of God in my life and in the lives of the people around me. God's handiwork is GREAT and I don't want to miss any of it! Many people consider themselves lucky to witness a miracle in their life, but honestly... I've seen hundreds, perhaps more!  Why?

  Because I'm always looking for what God's doing.

I once heard someone tell a story about perspective that basically said this:  In any given situation where God is moving, there are 3 types of people:

1. Those who are in the middle of what's happening.
2. Those who are watching it happen. 
3. Those who are totally unaware that something's happening. 

It's amazing how much God is at work, and so many of us "miss it".  I know from experience that a greater awareness to what God's doing around you starts with a simple prayer:  

"Lord,  Please open my eyes".  

It's a glorious thing!  Just like the game, it will "boggle" your mind as to what you've been missing!

Keeping my eyes wide open,

Gail  

Day 8

Tuesday mornings I attend a Bible Study at the local Christian bookstore. One of the things I love about this particular study is that my dear friend, Bonnie, who heads it up, spends much time, in advance,  praying and asking The Holy Spirit to direct our course of action.  So when the group comes together, instead of a fully, pre-determined lesson plan, she will start off with a topic or thought that God has laid upon her heart, and together we all dig into the Bible to see what the Scriptures have to say on the matter.

As always, today's study was an excellent one.  I arrived, in my comfy, RED ballet flats,  just as our theme was being presented:  "2013 - a Year of Release".  It all came together, much like an artist painting a picture before us.  In the end, all of the scriptures, stories, and personal experiences presented a divine display of our topic. Everyone contributed... including The Holy Spirit.

What was really interesting was how it ended. We were getting ready to wrap up our event and close in prayer, when all of a sudden,  I felt so strongly that I needed to share the importance of dealing with our personal issues at hand, so that we might feel a "release" to move on to the next level of our walk with God. Normally, I would have just let Bonnie close, but it was as if I had this thought or concept that filled my mind, and I just had to empty it onto the table before the group. Following me, another gal bore witness to what was said by sharing that she, too, had been thinking exactly the same thing.

Was The Holy Spirit trying to say something to us?  

Bonnie slowly looked around the circle, waiting to see if there was anything else before closing.  (WAITING... that seems to be the key). I found myself raising my hand like a little school girl.  "I'm sorry, but I just can't help myself," I cried out.  (My heart was beating hard within me - a faithful sign that I've come to recognize, over the years,  when God is prompting me to speak on His behalf). What proceeded from my mouth was a confident and urgent prodding to people's hearts that God was trying to speak to someone... and they didn't even realize it. I could sense, so powerfully within me,  that God was trying to get someone's attention, and that NOW was the time for them to get their own personal release from an issue that they've been harboring, that was hindering them from moving forward.

Understand me when I say that I wasn't trying to get someone to do anything. If it were up to me... I would have thought it a nice time to close, and move into the cafe for lunch. BUT something inside me - no...  someone inside me -- The Holy Spirit -- He had something to say, and He just happened to use my mouth to speak it.

Once that message was delivered, Bonnie moved into a closing time of prayer. I looked around the circle as we all proceeded to bow our heads. Everyone was composed and good. I remember thinking to myself, "That's ok... God will reveal to whoever that person is, that it's them, before they rest their head on their pillow tonight, and they can pray it out in the privacy of their own home".

Suddenly... God triggered something in one woman's heart.  In a moment's time, she totally broke, and out gushed a stream of confession and prayer to God.  It was awesome!  We all lovingly huddled around her and agreed with her in prayer. Wow! The Holy Spirit just met her in that place of "RELEASE".  It was such a Living Illustration of our entire study. Man... when the Holy Ghost decides to participate, it just brings things to an entirely different place... a Divine Dimension. How can we settle for anything less after that?

Afterward, the woman described that right up until the last moment, she remembered thinking, " I wonder who it is? It's not me." and then as she bowed her head, God revealed to her that it was her, and she just let go, and let God have His way! What a breakthrough it was for her!

Of course, I'm just telling you my perspective on the meeting. I have no doubts that all the gals involved could share their own blessed take-away.

You know... in some ways it's a challenge to let God speak through me.  In other ways, I'm not sure I have a choice.  When He wants to speak, He has a unique way of getting my attention and letting His voice be heard.

Red Shoes.  Ruby Slippers ... They seem so bold and bright. Yet when The Holy Spirit decides to move powerfully in your midst, He outshines everything! Because He's not a pair of magical shoes.  He's God Almighty.

Can't wait for tomorrow brings,

Gail