Day 113

I started out in RED flats and ended up in RED pumps on this 113th Day of The Red Shoe Project. My day started with the Ladies Bible Study at the bookstore and ended at a local restaurant with my daughter and some friends. So much transpired from morning til night.  Many people came in and out of my life.  But the same thought kept crossing my mind.  I couldn't stop thinking about:

  "The Voice of God" 

God has been speaking something specific to me over and over these past few weeks.  He keeps confirming and reinforcing it. (Day 107)  Is He teasing me?  His continual whispers on this particular matter are causing me to take notice.  We'll see what comes of it.  When I know more I will fill you in.

The Ladies Bible Study group discussed  "The Voice of God"  today.  Coincidence?  LOL.  No... I was not the one teaching the Bible study.  In fact, I had no idea that the lesson would go in that direction. But the same Spirit that lives in me, also lives in my pal who lead today's discussion.  So it doesn't surprise me that God was speaking to me late last night about  "His Voice,"  and early this morning to her about the same topic.  It is the "same Spirit."  That in itself is a confirmation. When random Christians are all talking about the same thing, I can be assured that God's Spirit is moving in a particular direction with a particular message.  He does that quite often.  He drops His thoughts in people's hearts with the intent for them to spread the word.

Yesterday, I talked about The Bible being God's primary language.  God has spoken to me countless times through His Word, in many different ways.  And today, I was reminded of a most precious example of that.

Many years ago, when my son was about five years old, I went into his room to pray for him.  He was a typical five year old boy... a joyful lad, full of life, a little mischievous at times, smart as can be, and cute as a button. I love my boy, but I was a little concerned with his lack of interest in memorizing his Sunday School scriptures.  What can I say?  LOL.  His sisters were little memory bugs, and he wasn't.  I was a young mom with high expectations. So, I went into his room while he was sleeping, dropped on my knees and began to pray for him.

I was astounded when God showed up and spoke ever so clearly to my heart.

"Why are you praying 

for this one?  

This is the one 

I've chosen."

Really?  The one who's mischievous and not doing his Sunday School lessons with diligence?

The Spirit of God filled the room and God reminded me of His Word... 

"Man looks at the outward appearance, 

but God looks at the heart."

1 Samuel 16:7b

The Lord was saying to me... "You're looking at a typical five year old boy and making a judgement on what you see, but I know that little boy's heart and I have a plan for him!"

Then He reminded me of the story that goes with that verse:

  

God told Samuel, the prophet, to prepare to anoint one of Jesse's sons to be the next king of Israel.  Jesse lined up all his boys in front of Samuel -- a wonderful selection of young men to chose from. That's when God told Samuel that His criteria was not outward, but inward. Not one of those young men was the chosen one.  Samuel then asked Jesse if he had any other sons.  

"One more,"  Jesse replied, "but he's just a boy 

  and he's out watching the sheep." 

"Go get him,"  Samuel said, "I'll wait!"  

David, the shepherd boy, came before him, and God said, "He is the one."  

David, eventually became king,  and is known, to this very day, as 

"The man after God's own heart."

Personally, I've found that when God uses His Word to speak to me, like this, its impact is powerful.  I can trust it!  I know it's true, because His name is Faithful and True. I'm not leaning on my own thoughts, ideas or feelings.  I'm leaning on His Word... God's primary language!

Now, mind you, I didn't go into my boy's room that night thinking, "What blessing from God's Word can I pray over my son to make him great?"  No...  I went there humbly asking God for a little help, and He surprisingly corrected me.  He adjusted my perspective to see things as He saw them.  

The next day, I didn't hesitate to tell my son, what God had spoken to me.  In fact, I told my son that story many times, throughout his youth.  Even when he was older, and going through a time of rebellion, I spoke that over him, loudly and clearly.  I remember a day in his teens when he was proclaiming to be someone that didn't fit the vision God had given me. I remember rising up in that moment and powerfully stating,  

"I don't know who you think you are... 

but I'm your mother, and I know exactly who you are.  

You are a man of God.  And God has called you!"

That proclamation may not have made sense to the people within hearing distance.  It certainly didn't fit the current picture, but...

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for,

the evidence of things not yet seen."

Hebrews 11:1

A mother knows when God speaks to her about one of her children and she treasures those things in her heart and prays them into fruition.  Everyone in the family prayed that vision into fruition for him. Today, he can be found, continually about God's business.  The vision has become reality in motion.

Yeh... I love God's Voice.  When you hear it in your heart and mind, and combine it with the written Word on the page... BAM!  a "Glory Explosion" takes place right there!  Oh, that we would all have more of those!

In light of that, my bright RED shoes are looking rather dull and boring.

Until tomorrow,

Gail

Day 112

Day 112 of  The Red Shoe Project  found me in and out of my office, in RED shoes and about business matters -- emails, texts,  phone calls, calendars, events, meetings, agendas, business cards, websites, logos, ideas, projects, schedules, time frames, to-do lists, networking, negotiating, connections. It can be a bit of a whirlwind  when there's a lot going on.

whirlwindnoun1 the building was hit by a whirlwind tornado, hurricane, typhoon,cyclone, vortex, twister, dust devil.2 a whirlwind of activity maelstrom, welter, bedlam, mayhem, babel,swirl, tumult,  hurly-burly, commotion, confusion; informal madhouse,three-ring circus

Later in the evening, the topic of discussion
in our Life Group was The Voice of God. 

John 10:3b says...  "the sheep listen to his voice" 
Verse  4  says, "his sheep follow him because they know his voice."
Verse 14b says, "I know my sheep and my sheep know me"

Many years ago I heard a seasoned woman of God say, "When people tell me they can't hear the voice of God, I ask them, When was the last time you opened your Bible?" 

It's difficult to follow God, if you can't pick out His voice in a crowd.  Hearing God's voice and being able to distinguish it is a learned behavior, but "Practice makes perfect."

So perhaps "whirlwind" is a bit dramatic of a description for my day.  I had a busy day, but it was a good day.   I do know, however,  that in the whirlwind of life, whether it's just a busy day, or a major storm surge, above all else,  I want to be able to hear God's voice. I want to be able to follow Him.  I want to know what He's asking of me, and follow through.

Today, in the midst of everything, God spoke a couple of instructions to me -- things He wanted me to do, and I obeyed.  I don't ever want to miss His voice.  After all, in this Divine Partnership He's the senior partner, He's the leader, He's the one with the supernatural qualities. My job is to trust Him and obey. So I have to be "tuned in" to His voice continually. I have to know the Word of God -- that's His primary language. And just as important,  I have to clear out the clutter of life -- those things that can so easily distract.

I have to make Hearing His Voice 

a TOP PRIORITY... 

#1...

 of Greatest Importance." 

In life, that can be a challenge... but it's do-able!
My RED shoes remind me everyday,
to not only look for God, but to listen for His voice.

Q-tipping my ears for better reception!
Gail

Day 111

Today is the 111th Day of  The Red Shoe Project.  I slipped on my RED sandals and headed out the door to church,  early this morning,  desperate to get into that magnificent arena of worship.  Yes... I went back to that little church.  I had to get myself there!  The conference is gone now, but God's
Spirit is still ever so present.  I wasn't disappointed.

There's something about a song they sing there that just pulls me "under the water" with God.  It just brings me to a deeper place...  A secret place where the Waterfall of Glory pours down upon me.


Closer

Your love has ravished my heart
And taken me over, 
taken me over.
And all I want to be is
with you forever, 
with you forever.

So pull me a little closer
Take me a little deeper.
I want to know your heart.
I want to know your heart.

Your love is so much sweeter
than anything I've tasted.
I want to know your heart.
I want to know your heart. 

Whoa, whoa...
 How great your love is for me.
Whoa, whoa...  How great is your love. 


I've been in my RED shoes and singing this song all day.
I can't seem to shake it.  Actually, I don't want to shake it.
 I want to stand under that Waterfall of Glory 
until my fingertips shrivel.  LOL.

Soaking in His Presence.
Gail

Day 110

Day 110 of The Red Shoe Project was a little cloudy and dreary, so I reached into the back of my closet and pulled out those bright, sparkly, RED shoes.  Perfect for today! They are a reminder to look beyond the dark clouds for The Living God who loves me!

It's been a quiet day.  I love that.  A little slow, a little sleepy.  Not a lot of things needing my focused attention, so I was able to just continually communicate with God casually throughout the entire day -- while I was walking the dog;  while I was doing the laundry;  while I was making the bed;  while I was cooking;  even while I was watching t.v.  My thoughts kept going back to Him... wondering what He was thinking, wanting to share my heart and my life with Him... wanting to just find myself wrapped in Him.

Who is this Jesus who has so captivated 

my heart, mind, soul and strength?  

Of course I know who He is... but I have this strange feeling in my gut, that says there's so much more.  After thirty years, how is it that I feel that I've barely scratched the surface of this relationship? Am I a mere acquaintance with God?  Because my desire is to go beyond that... to be His friend... to be intimately entangled in His presence... to be in such Divine Partnership that it's hard to see where He ends and where I begin... to be inseparable, not just in word... but in life.

I remember one time, decades ago, asking my son, (he was about eight years old), if I could join him in a game of  "doubles" on our home video system.  He agreed and even let me go first.  One. Two. Three. I'm out.  His turn.  About a half hour later, he handed me back the controls.  It was finally my turn again.  One. Two. Three. Out.  Back to him, for at least another half hour.  I'm not sure if I ever finished that game.  I may have gotten tired waiting for my turn and wandered away.  LOL.  But I learned a lot that day watching him play.  I clearly remember  that I couldn't even make it through Level One, which was quite interesting, because up until that day, I never knew that there was anything but a Level One.  Watching my son, I found that there were several kingdoms to be conquered, a princess to be saved, hidden keys all over the place,  and a manual that held the secrets on how to get from one level to the next.

Have you ever felt like you finally conquered Level One, only to find that you had to immediately start all over, at the beginnning,  at Level Two?  You're so excited about winning! Yahooooo!!!  And just as you're about to do your  victory dance...  Oh no, it's already time to move on!  There's no time to hang around and celebrate, the clock is ticking.


As I look back to Day One of
The Red Shoe Project,  I can see that I've come miles and miles.  There have been many insights, numerous victories & much growth.
But as I look before me,  there's miles and miles of road ahead,  still untraveled.  And there's this yearning in my heart, to know God in a deeper way, that leaves me little time for celebration.  I must move on!


I visited with  a wonderful friend the other day.  She asked me if there was anyone "special" in my life.

"Oh yes," I replied,  "His name is Jesus!"  

Needless to say, that didn't quite go over the way I had hoped.  

"No... really," she said,  "Is there anyone special these days?"

Ok, so I wonder what part she doesn't get?   

" YES....  His name is Jesus!"

I understand that she doesn't get it.  Hey... sometimes I don't get it!   LOL.  But it's the truth.  There is someone special in my life.  His name is Jesus.  And I don't want anything to get in the way of that.  I don't want anything extra to take up my time.  I don't want anyone to distract me from my heart's desire. I don't want anything in my life that will break my focus on getting below the surface, beyond the formalities, and to the heart of the matter... to the heart of Him who loves me most!

I've heard the testimonies of others.  People, who over the centuries, have made it their life's goal to know the Master in the deepest of ways.  Abraham, the friend of God. Enoch, the one who walked with God and God took him.   Moses, who met with God face to face.  John, the disciple that Jesus loved.  Paul the Apostle, who penned, in partnership with the Holy Spirit, most of the New Testament.  Fast forward in time... Revivalists like Finney, Moody and Spurgeon.  C.S. Lewis, the father of Christian Literature.  Kathryn Kuhlman,  Leonard Ravenhill, Oswald Chambers, A. W. Tozer,  Mother Teresa... and the list goes on and on.  What is it that they knew about Christ that set them apart?  Somehow they were able to go deeper.

 Is this what going into Ezekiel's River is all about? (Ezekiel 47).  When a Christian walks in ankle deep, then continues to knee deep, neck deep, to the point of going under completely...  Is that what Ezekiel was describing? If so, where are my RED water shoes?   It's time to go swimming!

I'm going in for a dip and may never come out!

Gail