Day 193

I started Day 193 of  The Red Shoe Project walking three miles in my RED sneakers, talking to God.  What a gorgeous day for a prayer walk!  I sang a little, prayed for the needs of people, and then just chatted with God about life.  It was such an interesting conversation.  As I think about it even now, a smile comes to my face.  That's because we talked about Pauly.  Pauly's my english bulldog.

One of the things I love about my first book, The Yellow Brick Road: A Woman's Journey to the Edge and Back,  is its cover.  It's a photograph

of me, wearing RED shoes, on a beat up brick road, that's slightly yellowed.  I wanted a real picture because my story is a real story.  In writing it, I strived to be brutally honest, so that people would be able to identify with me and the difficulties I faced.

We live in the day of "reality shows."  You're getting the scoop as it happens.  It's not scripted in advance.  There's no one famous playing the part of someone else.  Regular people are just being themselves.  That's how I view my writing.  I'm a regular person, just like you, only I'm living my life right out in front of you.  What you read, is how it actually happens.  When The Red Shoe Project is completed, it will be a "real-life"  journal depicting "My Year in Red Shoes."   All this said, I began to wonder, 

"What will the cover of my new book look like?"

The Lord suggested that it be a picture of me, in my RED shoes, with Pauly.  Really?  What's with that?  Why Pauly?  Are you ready for this?  The Lord said, 

"Because you're my Pauly!"

"Everyday, there you are in your RED shoes waiting for me, looking for me, eager to hang out with me."

Yeah... Pauly's just like that with me.  Wherever I go, he follows me around, from one room to the other.  When I go out, he sits at the window and waits for me to return.

"You just love me whole-heartedly and I love that about you!"

Yeah... One of the things I love about Pauly is that he just loves me unconditionally. He gets so excited when he sees me.  He just runs at me, wagging his tail.

"You pour out your praise and worship to me generously."

Yeah... Pauly loves to jump on me and lavish me with dog kisses, (also known as licks).  But Pauly's kisses are wet, slobbery and slimy.  I suppose I can be a bit wet, slobbery and slimy in my worship at times.  But God knows my heart and receives my affection, regardless.

"You're eager to rest by me, even when the lights go out and it's time to sleep."

Yeah...  Pauly jumps up on the king size bed every night.  Even when he sleeps, he wants to be near me.

"You trust me to take care of your every need."

Yeah... Pauly knows that I will take him out everyday for his walks.  He trusts that I'll fill his bowls with fresh water and nourishing food.  When he's sick, I make sure he's tended to.  He worries about nothing.

This whole conversation got me to thinking... I do love my dog, but he's my dog.  I don't expect all my friends to love everything about Pauly, because he's not their dog.  I mean, after all, he can be stinky and drooly and overly playful.  Sometimes he barks and barks.  Sometimes he even jumps up on me.  It's not uncommon for me to walk out of the house and realize I'm covered in fur, drool, or both.  What do I do about that?  I go back in the house and wipe myself down with a damp cloth, or I keep a sticky roller in my car so that I can clean the fur off my clothes when needed.   When he barks, I take a moment to give him my attention.  He's just a dog...  but he loves me so much, I overlook some things.  I don't want to quench his joyful spirit.

It's not that difficult a stretch to realize that sometimes I can be stinky, drooly and overly playful around God.  Ya know?  Sometimes I bark and bark.   But He overlooks some of these things because He doesn't want to quench my joyful spirit.  He sees my love and my human attempt at presenting that to Him and responds by pouring his love out on me!

Okay... so I realize that some of you may not be pet owners or dog lovers.  This analogy may be totally off the wall for you.  And I do realize that I can't parallel everything about my dog with how God deals with me.  However,  somehow, in this stupid, silly example, God saw to it, that I received a better understanding of His love for me.   

Pauly is a dog and I am his master. 

I am human and God is my Master.  

It's so funny how God can use the craziest things to speak words of truth to me.  I'm thankful that He  presents things in a variety of ways... some of which are fun and easy for me to grasp ahold of.  

In Red Shoes,

Gail

Day 192

Day 192 of  The Red Shoe Project has me in RED sneakers and prayer walking once again.  Today has been a day of meditation on Psalm 91.  God protects those who trust in Him!

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, 
"He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his feathers, 
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand, 
but it will not come near you.

You will only observe with your eyes 
and see the punishment of the wicked.

If you make the Most High your dwelling --
even the Lord, who is my refuge--
then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you 
to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot 
against a stone.

You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

"Because he loves me," says the Lord, 
"I will rescue him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life will I satisfy him 
and show him my salvation."

I'm reading this scripture
over and over again...
- taking it all in  
- devouring it  
- believing it!
  
May somehow it become part of me, ingrained in my very being
- deep-rooted!  

I pray that it so establishes itself in my soul, that when the enemy shakes up a storm all around me,  I will stand in my RED shoes,  firmly upon this Word,  trusting in my God!

Gail

Day 191

Day 191 of  The Red Shoe Project is coming to a close.  I have kicked off my  RED shoes and am trying my best to deliver an accurate account of this day that has been jam-packed with  "Goodies from God!"   

WOW! 

What a day!

I arrived early this morning to set up the chairs for our Bonfire Bible Study only to find that we were being bumped to another room due to a broken air conditioner.  In this case, it was a bump UP to a larger, brighter, more conducive room for our ministry.  It was the perfect venue!  Last week we were totally grateful for the room we had.  As I mentioned though, it already seemed like the room was half full.  Today,  the room felt like home!  We are hoping and praying that God bumps us up  permanently...  at least until we outgrow that venue or until God provides us our own facility.

Yesterday's blog was somewhat prophetic of today's meeting.  People came with needs and God met them.  Not one person left the way they came.  Bonnie presented a good Word based on Romans 12:1, "...offer your bodies as a living sacrifice..."  and several women made apropos observations and comments.

The major take-away from today's lesson had to be the importance of allowing The Holy Spirit to cleanse you of your issues - junk - crap - stuff  that's of no value and gets in the way of God really moving in your life.  Prior to the meeting, Bonnie had a front row seat to a living illustration when she went on an inspection of a home where they discovered the septic tank filled to the brim and near over flowing.  Needless to say, it had to be emptied.  Yup!  It's a messy job, but it has to be done.  It's the same when it comes to our lives.

At the end of the meeting, we took time to pray specifically that The Holy Spirit would reveal to people what they needed to be emptied of.

After singing the chorus,  "You won't leave here like you came in Jesus Name,"  people started clapping.  Others joined in shouting out praises to God.  It was exuberant and glorious all wrapped into one!

Next thing you know, someone shouted:  

"Joy!  Joy!  Joy!"  

Another responded loudly, 

"We receive it in Jesus Name!"  

Even another broke forth with, 

"Victory!  Victory!" 

People continued to clap.  One even stamped her feet victoriously!

Yes... there was no way anyone would be leaving there "the same."  Women, here and there, began turning to the person beside them, laying hands on them and praying for their needs.

 
Boom!  Down went this one.   
Boom!  Down went that one.
Boom!  Down went Bonnie!
One gal said,
"You don't understand! 
This has never happened to 
me before.  I don't go down!" 
 LOL.  Well... she does now.  It was awesome!  That's body ministry at it's best!

Leaving there, several of us headed to a nearby restaurant for fellowship and a bite to eat.  Truly it was like the second course of "God's Goodies."   The dear sister sitting beside me had such a passion for God's Word.  The two of us got into a discussion on Women Warriors for God, Wielding the Word of God, for the Cause of Christ.  Now that's a conversation that will stir you up!  

Just then, Dr. Linda had to get back to the office.  I wasn't able to get to her for prayer at the meeting, so as she passed me, I put her hand on my shoulder and asked her to pray. My shoulder has been dreadfully sore this past week.  Quietly, right there in the restaurant, she placed her hand on me.  I prayed quietly in agreement, and there it was:  THE HEAT.  I felt that warm healing power flow through her hand and into my shoulder.  Thank you Jesus!  Hey... it worked on my neck a couple weeks ago.  I'm believing the same for this shoulder!


After everyone left, Bonnie and I met to debrief, testify and thank God for his goodness.  Ultimately, we ended up at Starbucks, only to be met by a wonderful brother in the Lord who shared with us the mighty things God has been doing in his ministry.  Wow!  God is using him in powerful ways.  Next thing I know, Bonnie asks him to pray for me and my ministry.  He pulled out his special anointing oil, poured it on the palms of my hands and prayed up a storm that surely drove the devil miles away!


Looking at my watch, I realized I had to leave or I'd be late for my class tonight.  I was facilitating a discussion group on The Book of Revelation.  Oh no!  Had I not been stirred up enough?  Talking about End Time Events  always puts a fire in my bones!  And it did just that.  What a meeting!

The cherry on top of this whole day was the fact that many of the people in this discussion group just gave their lives to Christ in the past year or so.  And here they are... all ready should Christ return tonight!  Every single one of them knows for sure, that when the trumpet blows... they are going up to meet Christ in the air.
Hallelujah!
Now that's Glorious!

Jumping with Joy, shoeless!
Gail

Day 190

Day 190 of  The Red Shoe Project  finds me in my RED sandals and shouting praises unto the Lord!  

"Is any one of you in trouble?  
He should pray.

Is anyone happy?
Let him sing songs of praise.

Is any one of you sick?  
He should call the elders of the church 
to pray over him and anoint him with oil 
in the name of the Lord.

And the prayer offered in faith will make 
the sick person well;
the Lord will raise him up.

If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.

Therefore confess your sins 
to each other* and pray for each 
other so that you may be healed.

The prayer of a righteous man 
is powerful and effective. 

As I am preparing my heart for tomorrow's meeting of  "The Bonfire,"   I am loving this portion of scripture from James 5:13-16.  It's such an accurate description of our group.  Yes... some will come troubled, but we will pray.  Some will come happy, and we will sing and rejoice with them!  Some may even be sick.  We will anoint them with oil and pray over them in the Name of Jesus!

That reminds me of this old chorus we used to sing at a little church in Rhode Island years ago.  I might have to teach this to the group tomorrow.

You won't leave here like you came

in Jesus' Name.

If your bound, oppressed, tormented sick or lame...

for the Holy Ghost of Acts 

is still the same.

You won't leave here like you came

in Jesus' Name!

Over the weekend, the enemy had been messing with my head.  Old memories that are covered in the blood of Jesus, were somehow finding their way into my dreams.  Really?  "Come on!"  The enemy of my soul can be relentless when he wants to be.  I had to take authority, in Jesus' Name, and dig my Ruby Reds into the ground and hold my position of Victory!  My dear friend and mentor says that the enemy will always come back to test if you have really been victorious.  If not, He'll attempt to take back the territory. 

Confession truly is good for the soul!  

Now hold on!  I know some of you are picturing priests and confession booths, etc.  That's not where I'm going.  I'm referring to James 5:16.*  

Yesterday afternoon, I met with my spiritual mentor and I told her about these crazy dreams.   

I know something, that no one else knows.  

It's just a little story that   I don't care to tell the world, if you know what I mean.  But I thought that maybe it might be a key to my victory.  So I told her.  I pushed aside what I thought she might think of me and let it out.  She called it a "Sacrificial Confession"  because I sacrificed 

my pride and confessed.

BANG!  

That blew the enemy right out of my presence! That's what confession does.  It renders the enemy powerless.  Over the years, I've learned that secrets must be shared with someone.  They don't have to be shared with everyone. But it's advantageous to share them with someone you trust.  As long as you're holding onto a secret that only you and the devil know,  He will use that against you every time.  He will hold it over your head.  He will torment you.  He will bind you in fear.  He will try to get the upper hand.  There will be a power struggle.  

Therefore confess your sins 

to each other and pray for each 

other so that you may be healed.

Confession is key!  Now there's a weapon of warfare worth hanging on to.  Don't be afraid to use it.  It works every time!

Gail