Day 91 officially puts us in the 4th month of The Red Shoe Project.  We're into the Second Quarter of the Year...  It's a New Season!   Before I even got out of bed and into my RED shoes, the Lord was speaking loudly to my heart...

"Get ready!

The Wind is changing direction!"

It's funny how the Holy Spirit can bring just about anything, in great detail, back to your mind.  He reminded me of the opening of a movie I saw as a kid,  Mary Poppins.  I immediately went to YouTube and there it was!  

I watched, almost in disbelief, 

as the Holy Spirit gave me insight.

The Banks family is about to hire yet another nanny. Up until now, not one has worked out!  Once again, an advertisement has been placed in the local paper.  Nannies are already lining up at the door to be interviewed.  The children, Jane and Michael, have sent out their own advertisement requesting "The Perfect Nanny."  With sincere hearts, they have listed in detail exactly what is needed.  Truly, this would be an answer to their prayers. They look out the window at those waiting to be interviewed.  It doesn't match at all what they've requested.  It's just more of the same old, same old, that never works out!

But suddenly, the weathervane changes direction.  A report is made that the wind is blowing in from a different corner.  The appointed time has arrived... not one minute sooner, not one minute later.   A strong gust of wind moves in and begins to blow away all the wrong things that don't fit, only to usher in exactly what is needed... in this case, Mary Poppins.

I believe God is telling me that the Wind of His Spirit is changing direction for me!  For three months, God has been doing deep things within me... unwinding me of self... changing my vision... changing my heart... changing my ways.  In the past, it seemed as though the answers to my prayers were often non-existent, and those that did come? well, they often didn't quite meet the specifications requested. Yet, I held on --Trusting God --  No turning back -- Believing by faith that God was with me -- Allowing God to have His way in me!  Now He's saying...

"It's Time!

I've already set things in motion!"

With a one  breath God will blow away the nonsense and usher in the answers.  So I'm asking you to watch and wait with me.  Expect it!

To "Expect"  means to Believe...  to Look for it!  

To Know that an obligation is about to be fulfilled!

Let's begin to celebrate even now! He loves that when we take Him at His Word, believe, and get excited about it!  Join me in clapping your hands, shouting out "Thank You, Jesus!" Wave your arms in the air.  Do a little dance.  Smile.   Shout "Hallelujah!"  Go on... put on a little music... take a moment to praise Him with me!

Because if He can do this for me,

He can do it for you!

I'm glorying in Today, 

and all that God brings with it, 

as I sport my RED shoes, 

Gail

"This is the day 

that the Lord has made.  

I will rejoice and be glad in it!"

(Psalm 118:24)

Day 90

Day 90 of The Red Shoe Project caught me in RED strappy sandals on a road trip to Granny's for  Easter.  It's the biggest holiday of the year, so the girls and I decided to get all dressed up and head out to spend the afternoon with the woman we love most.  What a wonderful time we had!

My oldest daughter mentioned to me that she has noticed lately that she is catching herself saying things that only I would say.
"Oh no, I'm becoming my mom!"  is now
officially part of her vocabulary.  Then she added,
"You're becoming Granny, and I'm becoming You!"   LOL!
It's funny how, in many ways,  we become our parents, isn't it?  There are some things, I guess, you just can't escape.


Meanwhile, I am happy that my heavenly Father is forever working in me to make me more like Him.  I read something interesting today in a book entitled, Prayer on Fire.

"Because none of us naturally seek God, 

our very desire to seek God is His work in us." 

* * *

"Therefore, when we desire to be filled 

with the Holy Spirit, it is because

 the Holy Spirit is already at work."

I know in the past I've often tried too hard.  I think I'm finally starting to let go of that and just go with God. There's an old song that says it best:

"I don't have to have a plan in place.

I don't have to see the end in sight.

All I have to do is follow You, 

wherever you lead,

 and do what you ask me to."

Simple and straightforward... not to mention I can wear my RED shoes!

Gail

Day 89

Day 89 of  The Red Shoe project found me in RED shoes and continuing to ponder the question:  

"But Do You Know God?"

Like many of you, I smile from ear to ear... " as I think of the goodness of Jesus and all He has done for me.  My very heart cries out "Hallelujah!"  Praise God for saving me!"

Of course I know God.  I read the Bible continuously and am more than aware of His Story.  On many occasions I have seen "The Passion of the Christ" and understand the price He paid for me.  I've said "The Prayer" and asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior.  I've been redeemed!  I'm born-again.  My name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life!  I pray daily... not to mention that I've given my life to serve Him and the passion of my heart is to help others make that Divine Connection as well!

"But Do I Know God?"

That question keeps going through my mind.  It sounds so simple, yet it's proving itself to be quite profound.  What!  Why is it that I can't seem to let go of this? My spirit has become entangled, forcing me to pick it apart, separate the knots, and get to the heart of the matter.  

 I find myself distraught that I can't seem to shed the fact that more often than not my prayer time has become a "Honey Do List."  "Jesus, provide for this."  "Jesus, provide for that."  "Refresh me, oh Lord!"  "Pour your Spirit out upon me!"  "Cleanse me from sin."  "Guide me this day."  "Show me the way."  "Heal me of this ailment." "Help me oh God!" "Lord, I want more!"  

Yes, there are times of thanksgiving and praise.  And I know that God loves to help me.  But I'm grieved that my time in prayer is so much about ME, and so little about Him.  I  never really took notice of it before, but I don't give Him much of a chance to speak.  I rarely ask, "What do you think?"  "What would you like to do today?"  "What's on your mind?"  Come to think of it... I don't even let Him lead the prayer time.  There's something not quite right about that!

To "linger" means to stay in a place longer than necessary, 

typically because of reluctance to leave.  

To be slow to disappear.

I think I need to "linger" more.  I'm starting to think that all those people dancing at the altar are much more on track than I have given them credit for.  After all, there they are, (before the service even starts, and well after it's over),  hands lifted up, praising God, waving their arms, dancing in joy before the Lord. No real agenda.  Just spending time in His presence, having fun, and telling Him how much they love him.  

I have this picture stuck in my mind.  The King is holding a celebration.  The pharisees of the day have come and presented a perfect program... structured, but nice all the same, and left.  Meanwhile everyone else continues to enjoy the party.  Some are sitting, while others are singing, dancing, and giving glory to His Majesty on High. The King is smiling and totally enjoying their presence.  In fact, He gets up and moves amongst them... touching this one, whispering in the ear of that one, hugging another,  talking one-on-one with many and even presenting some with gifts.  So where am I in all this?  Am I one of the last to leave?  or have I taken off early with the others?  Just a thought.  The choice is mine.  

What's really strange is that the ones who left early... well, they look so important.  They are so very serious, and as I look closer, they seem somewhat withered and dry, some even joyless.  Perhaps they are the Marthas of the court? The ones who do, do, do, and miss out on a deeper experience with Him.

Well I don't want to be a Martha!  I want to be a Mary.  I want to sit at His feet and get to know Him.  I want to know what He thinks.  I want to understand His heart.  I want to enjoy His presence.  Not because I've read about Him, but because I've been with Him... because I stuck around long enough and consistently enough for Him to speak to me.

As I head back home, this girl in RED shoes, has a new perspective on things. It's a new season... one of relinquishing the lead to whom it rightfully belongs, and of focusing on listening, lingering and maybe even laughing a little.

That I Might Know God,

Gail

Day 88

Day 88 of  The Red Shoe Project has me packing my bags, popping on my RED shoes and fleeing to a quieter place for a few days.  From the moment I awoke, I sensed God's desire to talk to me about some "heavy" matters, so I've taken my own advice and removed the distractions so that I can give Him my full attention.

Recently, I have conversed with several friends, all of whom are facing significant challenges in life.  They are "holding on to God" yet, something is bothering me.  I don't see evidence of the Power of God at work in their lives. Where is He?  Where is His handiwork?  What's the matter?  What's going on?  I can't understand why all these seasoned Women of God are floundering in their faith. Perhaps floundering is the wrong word.  They are by no means denying God.  And I have no doubts whatsoever that they love God with all their hearts. But it seems that they are just settling for things as they are, instead of commanding things to move into the position that they ought to be in.  Perhaps I am frustrated because my life is not so different?

Where are the Women Warriors of God?  

The women who don't settle, but instead wrestle it out like Jacob did shouting,

"I won't let go until you bless me!"

My friends are all wonderful Women of God. They are my comrades in the faith.  I know their hearts!  So what's up?  Could this perhaps be God's way of blowing the trumpet for us to get our battle gear on, line up in formation, and move out... take the plunge... and go deeper?

Last night I stumbled upon an interesting video clip. A minister was talking about students that were coming to him, inquiring about ministry positions. When he asked them what their qualifications were for ministry, they responded with all sorts of answers.  There were great accomplishments, missions trips, quality schooling, books read, and degrees achieved. Then He asks them, 

"But do you know God?"

As he talked further with them, he was astonished at their lack of prayer.  He was accustomed to spending hours a day in prayer, and none of them even showed promise in that area.  It got me to thinking... What does a man do when he spends four or five hours in prayer?  

The other day I asked God to show me what He sees, and allow me to feel what His heart feels. After writing several nice little blogs on Hearing from God... do you know what He said to me today?

"It grieves me that most Christians 
don't spend much time with me".

So I asked God what we could possibly talk about for four or five hours?  I don't know if I could fill up that amount of time. Although, now that I think about it, I went with a friend once on a four hour road trip, and we had no problem talking straight through the entire trip. And when I get together will my girlfriend for coffee, we have no problem talking for hours.  Hmmmm.

He told me that I could tell Him about all the people I know and about the needs they have....that I could talk to Him about their problems and ask Him to help.  I wonder how many times I've talked to people on the phone about problems or situations... for hours even, only to follow it up with a five minute prayer to God, on the matter?  Does something about that seem backwards to you?  Hmmmmm.

So I've decided to do just that... Talk to God about my friends, and about their needs... asking Him to help them, to step in, to touch them,  refresh them,  restore them, to let them sense His presence in a greater way, to provide for them, to bring deliverance where it's needed, to heal, and to help them be able to receive from Him.

Yes... I've put my everyday routine aside... to intercede for my friends...  to figure this thing out for myself... to become the Woman Warrior of God I'm destined to be.  I can't settle anymore!  I wont! And I'm hoping that I won't have to make this journey alone.  I hope some of you, who are tired accepting things as they are, will throw on your RED shoes and get back in the fight. -- The fight to make a difference! -- The fight to be all you can be for God!  The fight to KNOW Him in a greater way!  

If we're honest, we know that something's missing.  We don't know Him as we should... as we could. We've become comfortable.  Other things have snuck in.  Our daily calendars are filled with lots of things that take up our time, and not enough of our time is invested with God.  If you get right down to the heart of it... Only time with God will manifest the changes that are needed... both in us personally, as well as in the situations that confound us.

 Make no mistake, it will take a fight, a struggle, a wrestling... with our flesh.  Our flesh hates this kind of change!  The devil hates it!  It costs us something. It's anything but convenient. And it seems a lot of work...  for what? 

To know God.  To see the Power of God manifested in our lives.  To be in true Divine Partnership with Him.  Not just in words, but in reality.  Yes... it's by faith... it starts by choosing to believe... but as we act on our faith, and jump into the fight,  God will manifest the promises He's made to us.  I want nothing less!  What about you?

Call me a crusader, if you will, but I'm kicking off my RED shoes,  falling to my knees, and staying there.  That's a requirement for God's army that I'll learn, if it's the last thing I do!

Gail