Day 64

Day 64 of  The Red Shoe Project was a full day.  I wore my RED shoes to morning Bible Study... followed by my friend's afternoon, Art Journaling class... and topped it all off with my Starting Point Discussion Group for those seeking to know more about God.

With all that going on, throughout the entire day, in the back of my mind, I have been pondering a story.  You've heard of Parables in the Bible? (Stories that Jesus used to teach lessons to his followers).  Well, today I was pondering a parable of my own.  Let's see if you can read through the mystery of it all and figure out what it might mean. Perhaps God will reveal the lesson to you.



This is the story of two longtime friends.  One is an older, wealthy and very wise woman. The other is a younger woman who is attempting to be successful at life.  The older woman, with all her experience,  has taken the younger woman "under her wing."  The younger woman is totally receptive of that.  She loves the fact that the older woman is speaking wisdom and encouragement into her life.  The older woman sees it as an opportunity to  invest in the younger gal that she might go forth in the world with passion and  do what she has been created to do.  The young gal is appreciative of all the love and support and doesn't hesitate to continually thank her mentor!

One day the older woman calls the younger woman and invites her to lunch... her treat.  In fact, she'd like to connect with the younger woman on a regular basis to mentor her in a way that will bring forth the greatest success.   She knows that the younger woman can't afford the lunches and has told her not to worry about that... just to come.  She's happy to pick up the tab.  They set a date, time and place to meet every month.

Here's the re-occuring problem.  Every month, starting 29 days prior to their lunch date, the younger woman worries about how she is going to pay for the lunch.  She knows that the woman has told her that  she will be covering the cost... but even still, the young gal insists on trying to raise the money prior to the meeting.

One month she worked extra hours for a little more money in her paycheck.  The next  month she withdrew the money from her savings account.  Still another month, she had a yard sale to raise the cash.  And this month... after exhausting all her other options, she was found going through the creases in her car seats for extra pocket change to try and cover the cost.


Month in and month out, the older woman was prepared to pay.  But no... the younger woman insisted that she would take care of it.  At first, the older woman smiled and complied, but insisted that next month was her turn.  Even still, the younger woman wore herself out with worry, trying to  come up with the extra cash.  Finally the mentor confronted the young mentoree...

"Don't you see that you don't have to do all this?" she stated. 

What's the matter, don't you trust me to cover the cost? 

Please, next month, just show up for lunch!"

So tell me...

What is God saying to you?  What's the lesson?

Put on your RED SHOES, ponder the story, and tell me what you think.

I'm looking forward to your thoughts,

 Gail

Day 63

Today is Day 63 of The Red Shoe Project and it was jam-packed with activity. It started out with a little quiet time with God in my RED socks.

I'm finally getting consistent with my early morning prayer time.  I hope there comes a day when "missing it" isn't an option, ever. That will be a good thing!  Every now and again, I find myself out the door early and on my way somewhere, when it occurs to me that I haven't even said "Good Morning" to God. That's scary.  Talk about vulnerable -- Going out into the world, spiritually unclothed. Yikes! I know that may seem rather severe to some, but hey, would you go out of the house without make-up? or without brushing your teeth? or without deodorant?


I wonder what I look like without prayer?  Have you ever run out of the house,  just to do a quick errand at the store, and caught a quick glimpse of yourself in a mirror?  Yikes!  I'll never do that again.  What if one of my clients saw me?  What if one of my readers saw me?

My goal is to make a good impression with everyone I meet, and spiritually speaking, what do I look like without a smile?  One Sunday, I caught myself at an early morning church service, without a smile and very grumpy.  It wasn't pretty!  The clash between goodness and grumpiness was too much to handle. I headed home right after service to "adjust" my attitude before I infected anybody.

 Or what if my countenance is dreary and depressed?  Do I really want to share that with the world? As a Christian, my business is to promote positivity. Dressing in depression and despair  is not an option... especially when a few minutes in the prayer closet can fix all that, ever so nicely.

Please know that I'm not pushing a false smile.  What do we call that?  "Wearing a  mask."    No, no.  Authenticity is where it's at.  But in
the same respect, that shouldn't give us liberty to just let it all hang out either.
I prefer to "work it out" and "get myself together" with God.
That way, I can face the world with a real smile, a positive mindset, and an aura of peace and joy.  And let me just add this.  It's not fair to treat my family any less respectfully.  Sometimes it's about not coming out of my bedroom in the morning before being spiritually adjusted, let alone going out of the house.


Now I know that none of us would ever leave the house without brushing our teeth.  Right?  Because we don't want to breathe wretchedness on anyone that we may encounter.  I wonder what could possible come out of my mouth if I didn't brush with God's Word everyday.  Negativity perhaps?  Vulgarity?  Gossip?  Anger?  Foolish Banter?  Jealousy?   There's something to think about. Talk about first impressions?  Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit.  Spending time with the Holy Spirit causes self-control to grow in my life.


Or what about a day without deodorant.  Watch out!!!  You can lose a lot of friends, real fast, with that one... not to mention your confidence.  So often that affirming story in the morning devotional is just what I need to keep me confident throughout the entire day.  And it can be "time-released" giving me a boost in the morning, then again in the afternoon.  It even works in those unexpected moments... when something stressful pops up out of nowhere.

I guess it's not just about putting on RED shoes every morning to remind myself to look for God.   It's about wearing God.  Allowing Him to effect me so much that people don't even notice my RED shoes.  Instead, they see Christ in me. Wow!  Now that would be something.  Judges 6:24 says...

"God clothed Himself with Gideon". 

 Maybe someday God will clothe Himself with Gail?
Okay... that's a little heavy duty to be thinking about right now... but you never know what God has in store for you on this Yellow Brick Road called Life.

Until tomorrow,
Gail

Day 62

Today is the 62nd Day of this Red Shoe Project.  I put on  my sparkly RED flats as I headed out the door for church. I didn't think that those RED shoes could stand out any more than they already do, but considering that I was dressed in all black... well let's just say my RED footwear stuck out like a sore thumb. That's okay though, because they were an "in-my-face reminder" to look for God.

There was a special speaker at my friend's church today, so having attended my own church last night, I decided to go for a second course by attending hers this morning.  I got there a little early to get a good seat, only to find out that I had accidentally slipped into the end of the early service.  So I guess that made three services this weekend!  Wow!

There was lots of beautiful worship music there.  The kind you can just close your eyes to and be swept away in.  I enjoyed focussing my attention on the Lord.  One of the young ministers shared something very thought provoking that I find myself thinking about over and over again.

Do you constantly follow after God 

for what He can do for you?

The minister talked about how there's a couple people that just follow after him for what they can get from him.  They aren't really interested in him, only what he can do for them.  Sure, it starts off with a big smile, maybe a hug, some light banter back and forth, but all too quickly it gets down to the fact that they just want something from him.  And it's not just 1 time or 2 or 3 or 4.  It's all the time.  That can wear someone out.  I guess we all know people like that.  Perhaps, if we think long enough, we can remember a time where we've been  like that?  Yikes!

He talked about relationships... like the one between him and his wife.  How conversations can sometimes become about what one person said they'd do for the other, and how it isn't done yet.  He remarked how hungry they can each get for hearing those words, "I love you." "You're wonderful."  "I think you're amazing!"  And after those affirming times, the other person is desperate to do all those wonderful things for the other one, without even being asked.

Then he paralleled that idea with how we can be that way with God.  Do we just find ourselves hungry for God because we need what He can offer us? Do we get into His presence with a smile... maybe lift up our hands to sing a few familiar songs, only to get down to a long request list of what we need from Him? How often do we do that?  Perhaps too often?  

What about just worshipping God 

because He's GOD?

I've decided to spend my day worshipping God in my heart for who He is.  

God Almighty.  The Father of Glory.  The Ancient of Days. The Commander of the Lord's Army.   My Healer.  My Provider.  The God who sees me.  The Everlasting Father. The Creator of all things.  The Bridegroom.  The Alpha and Omega.  The Lord of Hosts.  The Holy One of Israel. The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  The Bright and Morning Star.  The Lily of the Valley.  The Prince of Peace.  Wonderful.  Counselor.  The Great I AM.  The Lion of the Tribe of Judah.  The Chief Cornerstone.  The Beginning and the End.  The Holy Spirit.  The Holy Ghost.  My Comforter.  My Helper.  My Teacher.  My Advocate.  The Door.  Emmanuel - God with us.  The Bread of Life.  The Light of the World.  The One True God.  The Word.  The Great Physician.  The Lamb of God.  The Friend that sticks closer than a brother.  Our Great High Priest - who was tempted in all ways but sinned not.  The Good Shepherd who goes after the one who is lost. My Rock.  My Deliverer.  My Refuge and My Strength.  My Strong Tower.  My Fortress.  My Shield.  My Hope.  My Righteousness.  The Living God.  My Sure Foundation.  The Way, the Truth, and the Life.  My Redeemer . The Sacrificial Lamb.  Faithful and True.  My Savior.  The Christ.  Messiah.  My Lord.  JESUS.

Now if that doesn't get your heart pumping, I don't know what will.  I'm am just going to ponder this list over and over again on this Sabbath day.  I can feel my spirit simmering within me.

God said, "Take off your sandals, for the place

where you are standing is holy ground."

Exodus 3:5

I think it's time to take off the RED SHOES.  

Gail

Day 61

Day 61 of  The Red Shoe Project was awesome! I just totally enjoyed the presence of God.  Yes... God is always with me... BUT it's just so much better when I'm "tuned into" His presence... when I feel like He's right there in the room visiting with me. There's such a contentment in my soul!  Such a completeness.  Such a warmth.  And not a care in the world.  Ahhhh... God is Good!

I woke up this morning, propped up the pillows and reached for my glasses.  Before doing anything else, I pulled over my Bible from the bedside table and turned to today's message for the day.  I found myself talking -- out loud, quite conversation-like, with God -- asking questions, and telling Him how I felt about things -- reminding Him to remember to watch over my kids (like He needs me to remind Him? ) and then just Thanking Him because I remembered that He's already doing that. Yes, I love Him!  I told Him that too.  And I just prayed a simple prayer...

"God, lead me today."

A good part of the morning was spent working together on a business project that we're developing.  Yes, God is helping me with my business.  Next, I spent some time preparing for my classes for the week ahead.  Before I knew it, the day had flown by, all too quickly, and it was time for church. I slipped into my RED sparkle shoes and headed out the door.  

I know that sometimes it may seem to those around me like all is just glorious, as I flutter around, here and there, in my Ruby Reds.  Most of the time, it is pretty sweet.  But it's not always that way.  I have my confrontations and struggles just like anyone else.  There are occasions when I'm down, doubting, and discouraged. But I try my best not to go there, let alone stay there for any length of time.  In my opinion, any time spent there is too much time.

Some people wear their emotions on their shirt sleeve.  What you see is what you get.  My personality is different.  I prefer to keep my emotions on the inside until I can get alone, in the prayer closet with God.  That's where I wrestle it out.  That's just how I do it.  It's what works best for me.                                                               Sometimes I have to go back to that closet, day after day, until I get things resolved.  But God is faithful.  He always hears me out.  LOL.  I'm laughing because sometimes I can get a little crazy when an issue arises.  He just lets me do my thing -- get it all off my chest.  He waits until I wear myself out.  Then, and only then, am I capable of listening to what He has to say.  I know that doesn't sound religiously appropriate... it's not.  But I'm not involved in a religion. I'm involved in a relationship... a relationship with the Living God. 

That's not to say that He doesn't correct me when I'm done ranting and raving or crying or questioning. Because He does.  But He's so gracious.  He knows that I get frustrated and confused.  He knows that I hate when I mess up.  He knows that I just want to understand. And He knows that I just want to get it right.  He knows because I tell him.

You can see why I like to go into the closet to do all of this.  It can get a little messy.  (LOL).  It's really not so messy anymore.  I've come a long way in 30 years.  I've learned a lot.  Some things I've learned the hard way.  But most of all, I've learned one-on-one from Him.  I've gotten to know Him, better and better, with each issue... each circumstance... each dilemma.  That's how I know so well that I can trust Him.  Because on the few times that I worked it out on my own... well, let's just say that it didn't work out so well.  

Tonight, as I pull on my warm RED socks to crawl into bed, I am focusing on a wonderful thought.  I am remembering that scripture,
1 Corinthians 13:13...

"And now these three remain:

Faith,  Hope and  Love.

But the greatest of these is

Love."

Sometimes the issues of life, shouldn't be issues at all.  I can make way too much of them.  I can get entangled in them.  Perhaps the enemy puts them there to distract me... an attempt to cause me to detour...  to get off track.   I think I need to  push this issue aside and pay no notice to it. Yes... There's my word from God today!

I'm going to bed dwelling on the idea of  L O V E.  Remember, how God told me that my primary focus should be figuring out how to walk in His Love on a consistent and continual basis?  Perhaps I'll dream about that tonight.

Love to You all,

Gail