Day 166

On Day 166 of  The Red Shoe Project, I could be found in RED sneakers,  praying circles around the promises of God.  Seriously!  Whenever God promises me something, I circle it in prayer, and continue to pray it through to completion... til it's fulfilled and I've taken possession of it!  Today was about a prayer project that I've been working on for almost ten years.  Hey... what can I say?  Some things take time.  What's that old saying?

"Good things come to those that wait."

Many years ago, God spoke to me as I was driving along the road.  "I'm going to give you that house." He said.  I looked over to my right and there stood a magnificent house, but I didn't need a house, and this house needed a lot of work.  I told God that.  Next thing I know, the house is going through a one year restoration project.  Really?  Did God decide to restore it for me?

Waiting is all about patience. 
And Patience is a Fruit of the Spirit.

Time went by.  Life changed.  I changed.  When I was going through a very difficult time in life, I noticed that the house was still unoccupied.  It was within walking distance from my home and I found myself mysteriously frequenting the property.  I would sit in the garden and pray.  I was so broken.  I cried a lot.   Here, I felt so connected with God.  I always felt like He was right there with me, collecting those tears and listening to my prayers.



One night I looked up at the stars in the sky...  

"Okay God,"   I said.  "I believe you are going to give me this house, but I just don't know how you are going to do it!"  

He immediately responded, "That's what Abraham said."

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, 

the evidence of things not yet seen." 

Hebrews 11:1

No matter how difficult life got,  somehow, the heaviness always lifted when I was in that garden. I would pray and pray... not so much for myself,  but for the lost.  I would pray that one day, people would come onto that property and find hope.  I found myself believing that people would  connect with Christ there.  Maybe there would even be some who would rediscover their faith in that very garden, or on the porch, or as they walked around the grounds.   I would sit,  sometimes for hours, weeping and praying.  To me, this garden was a divine access point.  I could never quite understand the fullness of what God was doing in me or through me, but I knew this... He was with me and He was using me to intercede for others.  

 Waiting is "Hanging around until the time is right." 

One day when I was about to give up on life,  God stepped in.  He cheered me on to victory and reminded me of the many promises He wanted to fulfill in my life...  including the one of giving me that special house.  He said it was all  "right around the corner!"   From that low point in my life,  it was all up hill from there.  My life changed dramatically for the better.  I also learned that the timeframe of  "right around the corner"  is different for God than it is for me.

"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends:

With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, 

and a thousand years are like a day."

2 Peter 3:8

It's okay... I've been walking with God for a long time.  You get used to the time difference.  I'm not saying I completely understand it... but I can wait. 

             
Waiting is about "Staying Power."

All these years and the house is still not occupied.  They tried selling it, but it never sold.  Recently the owners went into partnership with a company that wants to put an elderly living facility on the property.  They bulldozed all the land and moved the house to another part of the property.  I'm not discouraged.  God is doing something.  The plan is moving forward.  

Waiting  requires  perseverance, 

persistence,  endurance and tenacity

Today I went back to the property.  I walked around the house two times, reminding God of His promise and thanking Him.  He says it's going to look really good when it's all complete and that I won't be disappointed.  

I looked around at the rest of the property.  It's massive now that all the trees and grass are gone.  I walked over to where the house used to be.  The garden is still there, but it's all broken up and overgrown.  It was a strange site.  I had mixed emotions as I stood there.  This is the place where I'd met with God all those times.  They were such powerful times of prayer!   The brick seat still remains in the garden rubble, so I thought -- just for old times sake -- I'd sit in the seat and have a little word of prayer.  Why not?  

I laid my hand on the bricks, closed my eyes and bowed my head.  BOOM!  

That's all it took.  I was immediately transported to that Secret Place.  The Spirit of God poured down upon me like a flash rainstorm.  Next thing I know, I'm falling to my knees, resting my body upon that brick seat, as if it were an altar, and interceding for the lost.  The prayer had not changed one bit.  God was still using me to bring forth His plan in this place.  For quite some time,  

I wept...  I shook... and I prayed in a variety of languages.  I just yielded myself to whatever God wanted to do there, in the midst of what was left of my prayer garden.   Before long, the prayer subsided.  I gave God praise as I lifted my head and opened my eyes...  WOW!  What a shock!  As I looked around, there I was on my knees, in the middle of this demolished property...  "just having a little God time,"  so to speak.  LOL.  That's okay, I'm used to this as well.

 

I stood up, pulled myself together and began to walk down the path, in my RED sneakers,  to the main street.  As I walked home,  it dawned on me that I may never see that garden again.  I'm glad God brought me that way for one last meeting with Him in that special spot. 

But I don't doubt that I'll be back on that property to pray... with or without the flower garden.  As long as The Spirit of God dwells there,  I'll be back!  For the last ten years I've been the Spiritual Caretaker of this property and no one's fired me yet!  One day, I'll be the owner.  The transfer has already taken place in the heavenlies.  It's just a matter of time -- God's time -- for me to possess the land,  in my RED shoes, of course!

Praising Him until that time comes!

Gail

Day 165

Today was the 165th Day of  The Red Shoe Project.  It was such a gorgeous day,  I was once again found in RED flip flops.  

In Florida, flip flops are considered common, everyday, year-round footwear for the locals.  They are not strictly for the beach!  I wore them to take Pauly out for a walk.  I wore them to drive to my Mom's.  I wore them to a casual luncheon.  And I wore them for a late birthday dinner with friends at a nice little Italian restaurant.  My RED flip flops were everywhere today!


Throughout the day, I found myself pondering an interesting observation I made.  This gal I know was talking about how an old friend of hers had recently straight out lied about her to others.  This angered my friend.

"Why would she do that?"  she asked me.  

"Doesn't she know who I am?  

I could let out a tongue lashing that would destroy her!"

"But that's not who you are,"  I responded.

"Well not anymore... 

but there was a day when that's exactly 

what I would have done,"  she retorted.

That's when the light came on.  I realized that my friend's  "old nature" 
saw a potential opportunity to resurrect itself.   Those words of...
  "what she could do"  were not her own.   They were the ways and words of the  "old her."   That's how she used to react to things before she knew Christ.

Romans 6:6  
"For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless that we should no longer be slaves to sin..."

Galatians 2:20
"My old self has been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me."

Galatians 5:24  
"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there."


The good news is that my friend no longer outwardly responds in the flesh in those situations.  This scenario, however,  brought to light that the next step for her is to crucify those memories that she is  speaking so that next time, she doesn't even think about how the  "old her"  would have reacted.

That old nature is dead and gone.  

No sense in digging up the dead!

What a great lesson!  I'm going to be mindful of my thoughts and my words... especially if I sense the old nature rearing it ugly head.  My thoughts become words... and  my words become my actions.   If what I'm doing is not pleasing to God,  it needs to be put to death on the cross.  If the words that spoke that action into existence are still being spoken... if they are still coming off my tongue, then I  need to nail them to the cross as well.  And if the thought still exists?   "God, I give you that, as well!  Take it from me!  Cleanse my mind!"

Death to my flesh!
Gail

Day 164

Day 164 of  The Red Shoe Project finds me in RED sandals and filled with HOPE.  Yesterday, while I was walking Pauly, I saw ten butterflies.  They were all different in color.  Butterflies always fill me with hope.  There's just something about them. They're so delicate and beautiful.  They always bring a smile to my face.  Whenever I see one, my faith is lifted up a notch and I give thanks to God for that little pick-me-up!  Imagine what ten butterflies did. Talk about a Power-Boost!

HOPE is defined as:

 optimism, expectation, expectancy, 

faith, trust, and promise.

For months I've been ministering to a woman who has had a hard life filled with challenges that most of us will never experience.  In the middle of all that, Christ heard her cry.  She gave her heart to Jesus and  has been taking one step at a time, one day at a time.  I've witnessed a miracle!  Her life has been changed -- completely turned around.  She doesn't even look the same.  She's glowing!

"I waited patiently for the Lord;

He turned to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, 

out of the mud and mire;

He set me feet on a rock

and gave me a firm place to stand.

He put a new song in my mouth, 

a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear

and put their trust in the Lord."

Psalm 40:1-3

She is a brave woman.  She has had to walk out her salvation.  That means she gets up every day, chooses to follow Christ and moves forward in newness.  She has left "the old way of life"  behind and is pressing on to all that God has for her.  That sounds so easy, but it's not.  It's challenging.  It's difficult.  It's scary.  But she's doing it.

BRAVE is defined as 

 courageous and  fearless.  

I'm not sure we're ever really totally exempt from fear.  I think that being brave and courageous is moving forward even when you are afraid. When you do that... everyone around you just thinks your fearless!

Lately we have been praying together that God would direct her next steps by opening and closing doors.  This morning He closed and locked an "old"  door.  We knew that old door needed to be closed.  It was a door to a bad place.  It didn't fit with all the good things that God's been doing. It was continually robbing her of His's blessings. 

Even so, she got scared when the door closed.  Now what?  All others doors seemed to be closed tight.  We prayed together for God to open a new door.   Many joined in prayer.  Then God's people took action on her behalf.  By the end of the day,  a  "new" door presented itself.   

I just got off the phone with my friend.  She is anticipating great things as she walks through this open door.  I'm expecting great things for her.  God is so good.  He sure knows how to bring it all together for His glory.  And I'm so proud of her.  She is leaping forward, by faith.  I have no doubts that one day, others will be inspired by her, and turn to God themselves.

Meanwhile, I'm taking one step at a time, one day at a time, myself.  I never know what each day holds until it arrives and I'm walking it out, trusting God with every step.  A friend of mine sent me a testimony of a man who has lived his life, much like I'm living mine right now.  The article was a wellspring of encouragement to me.  

When I was in Scotland, I visited a museum and learned about the discovery and exploration of Antarctica.  I can still hear my aunt whispering behind me, 

"They must have been very brave stepping out every day, not knowing what they would find."  

"Welcome to my world,"   I thought.   

"Welcome to my friend's world." 

Perhaps we're all called to be brave.  As Christians, don't we all have to take leaps of faith from time to time?  

One of the guys in my discussion group says the same thing week after week... 

"I'm discovering that it's all about TRUST.  It's all about TRUST!"

Yes it is.

Gail

Day 163

On this 163rd Day of  The Red Shoe Project I was sporting RED flip flops as I joined a dear friend for lunch, followed by a walk on the beach at the Longboat Key Club.  What an incredible day!  Magnificent weather;  beautiful sea green water;  cool, powdery sand;  and delightful conversation!  It was a happy afternoon to say the least.  I was with one of my most favorite girlfriends!

When I woke up this morning, I took some time to copy my notes from yesterday's Bible study presentation into my little personal book of messages.  This is a message that I want to be able to present again and again.  It's a keeper!  It's not about just having a good message.  I love this message because I've lived it out!  It's personal.  It's the story of me dealing with difficulty, turning to God for help, and finding victory!  It doesn't include examples that are found in a big ministry book of stories that you buy in a Christian bookstore.  These examples came straight from my life!

I also love this message because something happened when I was presenting it.  I got lost in the glory!  While everyone else was taking it all in, writing out notes, and pondering the scriptures... I was enjoying "the dance."  For me it was a time of partnering with The Holy Spirit and allowing Him to speak truth through me in a way that would impact lives!  At least that's what it's like for me.




I have several friends who are painters.  It's their gifting.  When they paint, they partner with The Holy Spirit to bring forth a message.  The onlookers all view the same creation, but how it's received in their hearts can be quite varied.  That's the thing about partnering with The Holy Spirit...
He has this way of taking the message and making it incredibly personal to each and every person that's taking it in.  I love how He does that!!!  I don't know how He does it -- It's supernatural!  It's a "God-thing!"
The results can be life-changing!  I know this personally because on many occasions,  I've been on the receiving end myself.


Today I met with an old friend who has been preaching evangelistic messages as of late.  He is multi-talented.  Over the years,  God has used him many different ways, on many different projects, for His glory. Lately, however,  he's been found doing what he loves most -- what he's best at -- preaching powerful messages that bring people to the feet of Christ for salvation, healing and restoration.  As he shared testimony after testimony,  today, I noticed that he was glowing.  Yup... he's been dancing with The Holy Spirit and having the time of his life!


Even tonight, I stopped by a friend's house for a couple of hours of fun.  She was hosting a jewelry party.  I wanted to support her, but I also wanted to see my other girlfriend, who was the presenter,  "do her thing."  She was fabulous.  I was so moved by how good she is at what she does!

She has such a gentle spirit about her.  She is kind and considerate.  People like her!  She has a special way of connecting with her audience.  She's also sensitive to the handiwork of God.  It doesn't take much to bring  tears to her eyes when she sees God at work.  Her husband recently commented to me,

"That's what I love most about her!"

The other night,  she and I were talking about The Red Shoe Project.  I got a little choked up about something, and without hesitation, her arms reached out and wrapped themselves around my neck.  Her hug was so comforting to me.   There she was...  doing her own unique dance with God!


As I kick off my RED shoes and head for bed, I'm going to take three minutes, put on a favorite dance tune, and do my own little dance before The King.   Why not?  All day I've been an eye-witness to people dancing with God.  Now I'm going to have a little fun and dance for God!  Good thing He has a sense of humor!

Gail