We're 26 days into  The Red Shoe Project.  I've been in RED shoes all day, basking in God's Presence, and a picture keeps coming to my mind.  It's a memory I have from several years ago, in which I was visiting with some friends. There was a gentleman there with a young daughter who was striving to get his attention. To amuse her,  he told her that he would play hide and seek with her, and that it was her turn to hide.  He began counting.  The little girl proceeded to run but a few feet away, closed her eyes tightly, then covered her eyes with her hands, and shouted out..."O.K.  I'm hiding!" It was so funny.  The little three year old assumed that since she couldn't see any of us, that we couldn't see her either.  She was shut away, well hidden, in her own little world.

The other night I shouted out to many of you via Facebook, and asked you to share your thoughts on your SECRET PLACE... where you go when you need to get one-on-one alone time with God.  There was a tremendous response!  Many shared that they had a specific space they went to where there was a comfy chair... in their house, in the living room.  Some said it was in the bedroom.  Others opted for outside on the porch, the lanai,  or in the backyard. One shared that the shower, in the morning, was her place to cleanse, physically and spiritually.  No one bothered her there. It was private and God often spoke to her. Many find that a drive in the car does the trick.

I began thinking about The Characteristics of a Good SECRET PLACE.

It should be:

• a private place, free of distractions.
• a place where you have the liberty to talk freely with God.
• a quiet place where you can hear from God.
• a comfortable place where you'll linger awhile.
• a convenient place that's easy enough to get to.

Privacy is important for a God encounter.  Generally speaking, those one-on-one times are intimate conversations between You and God. They are personal and not meant for other people's ears.

A private space is a place you go to by yourself.  You don't have to worry about being distracted by onlookers. Which also means that you need to shut off electronic devices like cell phones which can disrupt your conversation with The Almighty.

We want to make sure that we have liberty to share our heart with God without worrying about who else might be listening.

And just as important, we want to be able to hear from Him. So, if you're SECRET PLACE is in the car, do shut off the radio, and give Him the opportunity to respond.

Comfort can be an important factor.  We want something that is comfortable enough that we want to go there and stay awhile... but not so comfortable that you find yourself nodding off to sleep.  (Although there was a Christian man,  John Hyde,  nicknamed, "Praying Hyde" who always knelt by his bed.  He would pray for hours at a time, and ultimately wore groves into the floorboards.  I can't imagine that being comfortable, but it was incredibly effective, I'm sure!)

I know that when places are convenient, we tend to visit them more frequently and consistently. We don't really need another excuse for not being able to get to God.

So what about when it's not convenient to get to your SECRET PLACE?  What if you're in a crowded room and it's noisy?  What if there's not a comfortable place to relax, sit down, and seek God?

The need for an unanticipated, emergency meeting with God will arise on occasion. Then what?  That's when you close your eyes and enter into the SECRET PRAYER CLOSET of your mind.  You do what you need to do.  You push away from all the distractions.  And like the little girl, you get into your own little world.  (After all, the privacy, the quietness, the comfort and the convenience... they are for your benefit, not God's.)

Then you simply whisper His Name:  JESUS. And there He is!  Right there.  In the midst of it all, you're meeting with God.  He's never too busy.  He's never unable to meet. And you don't need to be wearing RED shoes!

In His Presence - anytime, anywhere!

Gail

Day 25 of  The Red Shoe Project started with a message:

 "Put a lid on it!"

I was barely awake, and all of a sudden, there came an onslaught of negativity!  Voices in my mind, coming from all different directions. Negative, discouraging voices. You know what I mean... those voices that say:

• You can't do that!
• What will people think?
• That person's probably thinking this about you right now!
• What about this?
• What about that?
• You can't keep focusing on Jesus... there's other things that need your attention.
• It will never happen.
• God won't come through.
• Maybe you should try something else!
• Time to take matters into your own hands!

Man those voices can be relentless!  Non-stop.  Never-ending. All shouting and veering for my attention.

BUT THEN...

There was one voice.  It was different from all the rest.  It wasn't loud, but it was firm, and it pressed it's way through the crowd of discouragement.

The Voice said,

"Gail,  Time to put a lid on this trash".  

Snap the lid in place so that it's on tight and nothing can fall out. 

Put it outside for collection."

That voice is My Friend, The Holy Spirit. He's easy to distinguish because He's never negative. He's never loud. He's never abrasive. He never tears me down.  He builds up.  He's loving,  joyful,  peaceful,  patient,  kind,  gentle, and good. That doesn't mean that He never corrects me, because He does.  But He does it in a God way... a positive way,  that always has a positive impact on me.

You know what that voice said to me just the other day?  He said,

"I like it when you smile!  

You look good when you smile".

Today,  I put on a smile, along with my RED SHOES.  I looked good and I felt good - I felt good about myself and about where I'm going.  And I'm reminded that I'm not traveling alone. I look down at my feet, and remember that The Holy Spirit is always with me.  What a GREAT Traveling Companion!

Remember... you don't have to keep the trash in your house until trash day.  Everyday you can dump the trash into the Trash Can outside and
"Put a lid on it!"

Have a happy day!
Gail

Day 24  of The Red Shoe Project found me puttering around the house all day, bare foot, with shiny, RED toe nails.   :)   I was tired, so I made it a point to rest in His Presence. I just found the need to STAY CLOSE to the HEART OF GOD... To listen to worshipful music... To think about Him and His love for me...  To read and remind myself of the character of God. That's so strengthening and comforting in time of need!

But you have to "do it". 

You have to get there... into His Presence. 

Just thinking about it isn't enough!

My SECRET PLACE with God is where I go everyday to focus on him. It's usually right in the middle of my living room. Sometimes I stand with hands lifted up in worship and praise. (A good worship CD or Pandora really adds to the atmosphere). Sometimes I dance around and sing with joy!  Other times I sit on the couch and read the Word... perusing the scriptures and listening for His voice,  for anything He may want to expound on. When I pray... that's a different story.  You might find me on my knees, or sitting with my head bowed or even pacing the floor back and forth... as I lift up my family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances... even strangers before the Lord.

Where's your SECRET PLACE?  

Where do you ESCAPE to when it's

time to meet one-on-one with God?

Do you go for a long walk in the neighborhood?  Do you walk the dog and look up at the stars?  Maybe you head for the beach, or the park, or someplace where it's simply quiet and beautiful?  Some people take a ride in the car.  Others go to their bedroom and shut the door behind them.  Suzanna Wesley used to sit down in her kitchen, lean her head in her lap, and pull her apron over her head, so that her children knew not to disturb her. That was her SECRET PLACE.

What works for you?

Why does it work?

Tell me.

In spending time with the Lord, I'm noticing a wonderful PEACE that lingers. It stays with me, even when I have to step out of the SECRET PLACE and go about my duties for the day. Red sandals, Red shoes, Red boots... whatever... they remind me that He is with me... and though I know I can talk with Him anytime, anywhere... there's something specifically wonderful about the SECRET PLACE.  The place where it's just Me and Him.  I can't wait to get back there.  Because... 

"THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME".

Going back there now,

Gail

Day 23

True to the rules of  The Red Shoe Project,   I was in my RED high heels, and out of the house, early this morning. On the Agenda:  Business Meetings. What I never expected was that  23 days into The Red Shoe Project  would be The Day of "Unveiling"!

 "Unveil" means:   

to expose something that's been hidden... 

  to reveal it,  to bring it to light,  to make it known.

I can't get over the fact that something can be right in front of me and I just don't see it.  The Answer I'm looking for?  There it is!  Where?  It's right there.  Right in front of my nose!  BUT... no matter how hard I squint my eyes... even if I put on glasses... I just don't see it!  What? Am I  blind?  Yes... that's exactly what it is!  I'm blind to it.  It's hidden. It's covered up.  For some reason, I'm just not meant to see it at this particular time.   Then one day... Woolah!  The curtain is lifted.  And there it is!  By golly, I was blind, but now I see!  Oh, how God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.

In my first business meeting this morning... that's right, I said BUSINESS meeting...   I had been hesitating on jumping in and getting overly involved in a project because I was uncertain of my place in the whole thing.  Did I really belong here?  Had I simply gotten to this place by happenstance? or had God put me here to make a specific contribution?  Then, quite SUDDENLY... God connected the dots  and REVEALED how things fit together, and that I was, in fact, to move forward now.

Perhaps you know the parallel of the TRAFFIC LIGHTS and GOD's DIVINE DIRECTION.  

• A Red Light means to STOP! ...Stay Put. Don't do anything.
• A Yellow Light means to WAIT.
• A Green Light means to MOVE AHEAD.

It seemed like I'd been sitting at that particular Stop Light for over a year.  That can make you start to believe that maybe you've missed something.  Maybe this traffic light is broken? 

Today... the light turned GREEN!  Yahoo!  We're moving forward, baby! Do I sound excited? It's because I am excited! 

The Connecting of the Dots was like a Divine Word of Knowledge that turned the Lights to Green.  What's that I hear?  BEEPING?  I think it's the Holy Spirit in the car behind me motivating me to proceed forward!

In my second business meeting of the day, I decided to invite a new business colleague to an event I'm going to. Long story, short, she turned out to be a well-seasoned Woman of God. Not only that, she recognized that she is able to help me specifically in a business venture that God has put before me.  Even more than just wanting to help me succeed, she believes that our meeting was specifically ordained by God so that she could help.  It was a wonderful thing. God "unveiled" who she really is, and how she is a key player in the plan God is unfolding before me.  In addition to all that, we both connected in an instant!  It is a God connection! A true friendship has begun.  Boy do I wish that all business meetings were that productive and exciting.  We both left "filled" with excitement and anticipation of what God has in store.

The whole idea of "unveiling" reminds me of a story found in  

2 Kings 6: 15 - 17.  

The enemy has sent his army to surround the city where the Prophet of God is residing. The servant of the prophet goes out of the house and sees the army.  He is petrified! He goes back inside to warn the prophet. The prophet responds, 

"Don't be afraid, those who with us are more than those who are with them".  

The servant doesn't see it.  What is the prophet talking about?  He only sees the enemy on all four sides. The prophet responds by praying... 

"Lord, open his eyes so he may see."

God proceeds to open the servant's eyes, and now when he looks around, not only does he see the enemy, he sees the hills full of horses and chariots of fire protecting the Prophet.

Ahhhh! "Unveiling"...  It is a Good Thing.  God totally pulled it all together for me by "lifting the veil" and showing me things that I hadn't been able to see before.  It was a productive day in RED SHOES!  

One day.  Two meetings.  Huge Insight.  Major Headway!

Can't wait for tomorrow.

Gail