Day 243

It's Day 243 of  The Red Shoe Project and I must confess I have not yet slipped into my RED shoes.  It's early in the morning and I am getting in a few quiet moments with the Lord before making the final arrangements to take off on another ROAD TRIP.


Some friends of mine are going on a cruise, so I will be house and dog sitting for a week in the Orlando area.  I will use this time to get away from the usual routine and close-in with God.

No Distractions!

Meanwhile, I have been trying to download a free AP from the TD Jakes Mega Conference.  I am so ignorant of this entire process, it isn't funny.  But I'm keeping my cool, determined not to get frustrated.  Imagine that... getting frustrated while trying to put an AP on my phone that will give me access to POWER FOOD in Christ!  It's like getting frustrated in the prayer closet.  It shouldn't be!   LOL.  But, we all know,  it happens more often than not!

Difficulties arise, 

even when it has to do with 

"The Father's Business." 

Just because it's a "GOD-thing" doesn't mean there wont be challenges.
Take a Deep Breath!   Here's what I found helps:

1.  Frustration always sets in when my time is restricted.  If I need something RIGHT NOW! or I'll miss out, then the pressure is on to try and make something happen that I know nothing about.  But guess what?  I don't have to have this AP right now.  My life isn't over if nothing happens on this.  So this is a great opportunity for me to learn how to do this, without the time pressure.

An  OPPORTUNITY  is a set of circumstances that make it possible for me to do something.

It's an answer to prayer!   An open door!   A chance to give it a try!  

It's my turn to rise to the occasion!   It's a window of possibility!  

It's a time to "Go for it!"

Note to Self:   TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY to learn how to do it when it doesn't really matter.  That way when something comes up and I do need to load an AP quickly, I know how it's done.  If I don't take the opportunity now, I may not get another chance to work through it and figure it out before the next time arises and time is of the essence!

2.  When I don't know how something is done, I've got to tap into the resources that can show me.  If it's instructions I can read online, in a manual, or in a book...  I've got to "just do it!"  I've got to make the time to understand, otherwise...  I WONT!  I won't understand it.  I won't know how to do it!  I will totally miss out!   Is that even an option here?   I don't think so!

3. There are people who know what they are doing, and some of them are good friends of mine.  I've got to get them to show me how it's done --  Not to do it for me! --  But to show me, so that I can do it myself next time!  Why wouldn't I do that?  Sometimes just because I think it's not that important. But it is important.  I've moved it up on my priority list!

All this has got me thinking... How is any of this,  any different than, say, my getting into The Secret Place and going deeper with God?  Or my understanding Spiritual Gifts in greater measure?  Or hearing the Voice of God more clearly and consistently.

It's not any different!

I'll be taking time on this ROAD TRIP to tap into a wealth of resources, under the guidance and tutorial of The Holy Spirit, in hopes of returning more knowledgeable and capable of spiritual matters that are on my priority list.  

 Keep me in your prayers!

Off to pack my RED shoes,
Gail

P.S.  I'll master this technology thing as well!

Day 242

It's Day 242 of  The Red Shoe Project and all day I could be found in my RED flip flops.   From the moment I woke up,  Simon & Garfunkle's "Feelin Groovy" was at the forefront of my mind.  I even played it a couple times on YouTube to remind myself of the importance of enjoying this season of slowness.  I'm determined to stay in the moment!  -- Not in the past -- Not in the future -- but right here, right now! 

 I'm also trying to keep my prayers conversational... as if Jesus and I were just two friends, talking face to face.  Have you ever caught yourself praying in King James?  LOL.  I find my prayers are, sometimes, overly formal and although there is much to be said regarding reverence to God, right now I'm focusing on intimacy.  That's a lot harder than I thought.  Somehow, I'm hoping that if I strip away all the excess formality and stick to the mere basics,  I'll touch a chord of Christ's heart that I never have before.  We'll see.

Intimacy   =  close familiarity or friendship. 

 Closeness.   Togetherness.   Cohesion.  Agreement.

Have you ever sat in a presentation and the speaker uses all sorts of big, fancy words?  I've got to wonder, "Surely I'm not the only here that doesn't have a clue what the speaker is talking about?"  And if that's the case, why would the speaker use words that are sure to confuse me, the listener?  I always thought the goal of the speaker was to get across their message clearly and concisely, so that the audience can fully receive it, and in turn do something with it.

I guess I'm wondering if the same thing is true with prayer.  Sometimes my words to God can seem more poetic than precise.  It all sounds good, but do I even know what I said?  The good thing is that God knows everything.  He knows my heart and He understands what I mean, even if I don't.  But I want to be clear, so that I understand what I'm saying as well.  I want my words to be accurate, specific, unambiguous and to the point.  When I talk with my family and friends, I don't talk like I'm in a performance of Pride and Prejudice.  I just say what I have to say, directly to them.  In the same respect, I'm not careless with my words.  I think about what I want to say before I say it.

My thought is this...
Praying can be a lot like slipping on a pair of RED shoes.  I don't wear my fancy RED stilettos to run around town, doing errands.  That would be way too uncomfortable...  not to mention it would be completely inappropriate and yes, it would look totally ridiculous!  
I make sure the RED shoe fits the occasion.  Right?

In my private time with God... 

When my heart is wide open to Him, 

When I'm naked and vulnerable in a way that I'm not with anyone else, 

When we are talking about life, 

When I'm being real with Him and He's being real with me...  

Yeah, that fancy talk just wont do.  

I've got to just be me and 

tell Him what's on my heart!

-plain & simple-

Gail

Day 241

It's Day 241 of The Red Shoe Project and once again I can be found walking about town in my RED footwear.  You are never going to believe this, but it's absolutely true.  Just the other day, I was driving home from church and this HUGE thing was in the middle of the road.  It had to be 18" in diameter.  

It was a Turtle!

I don't think I've ever seen a turtle crossing the road -- not ever -- not here in Florida, not up north, not anywhere!  And there I was just north of Bee Ridge on Honore Avenue, slowing down to a near crawl, just to check him out.  He was moving sooooo  S - L - O - W - L - Y. 

Come on!  Really?  Didn't that prophetess just tell me that I was like a turtle going down the road ever so slowly?  (See Day 217).  She also told me that the point of it all was so that I wouldn't miss the important things God wanted me to see.

What are you trying 

to tell me, Lord?

I can't believe it's Day 241 and I'm just now starting to "get it!"  

I'm still wired for my old way of living:  Moving and shaking -- Driving in the fast lane -- Meeting the deadline -- and Performing to the Nth degree.  Even though my pace, in these RED shoes of mine,  has been significantly reduced to almost a crawl... I've discovered that...

 I'm not  always living 

fully in the moment.  

That business mind of mine is always thinking about the future --How I can I produce something --  How I can I create something that I can package and present to people.   I guess I'm just wired that way!  

But God is re-wiring me!  I think today He just pulled out all the wires and decided to start over.  LOL.  The big question is this... What will I be like tomorrow?  Will I wake up and set out for my morning walk with Pauly equipped with a new mindset?

I believe it's time to have a little fun on this Yellow Brick Road:   to smile more -- to stop and smell the roses -- to laugh,  to dance,  to twirl,  to sing,  to enjoy!

So you know that God always gives me a song!

Here's my new theme song as I go into this last portion of the year,

in Red Shoes!

Simon and Garfunkle's 

"Feelin' Groovy"

Prepping my Ruby Reds for tomorrow.

Gail

Day 240

The night has arrived and Day 240 of  The Red Shoe Project is coming to an end.  My RED shoes are still on my feet, as I look back over my day and realize the many things God has done all around me.

Early this morning, I headed out the door in RED shoes, to set up for 
The Bonfire.   I ran into a pastor friend who just finished reading my book,
The Yellow Brick Road:  A Woman's Journey to the Edge and Back.  We chatted for awhile and I was able to share some encouraging words with him.  This man and his wife are Soul-Snatchers for the Kingdom.

What's better than that?  They facilitate a weekly Celebrate Recovery program.  In the past, his family has personally encountered the challenges of drug addiction, and now he and his wife are being used mightily to pull people from the pit of hell and help others from falling back in.

"Bless them Lord for their tenacity in this challenging ministry!"
I know they will be greatly rewarded one day for their diligence in being about The Father's business!

Pre-Bonfire,  I enjoyed an awesome time of prayer with two of my dearest girlfriends.  Together, we came into agreement with one another and with The Holy Spirit, that He would  have total liberty to move amongst us in our Bible Study.  For about twenty minutes, the three of us huddled together and praised God, prayed and thanked Him for his goodness.  Truly it set the stage for the ministry that was to come.


Our Bonfire Bible Study  started off with a BANG!  Dr. Linda's hands were on fire, and those needing prayer,  headed into the center of the room for a special healing touch from the Lord.  My shoulder has been aching lately... so when the opportunity  was given, I stepped into the middle of that circle, without hesitation.

I don't know what it is... but her hands heat up and the penetrating warmth brings relief to my pain inflicted limbs.  Sometimes the healing lasts for hours, sometimes for days.  Hey... I'd love a full, complete healing -- and I'm believing for that --  but meanwhile I'll take whatever I can get, and if I have to come back for more, I will.

If that weren't enough, my sister, Carolyn, came over and gave me one of the most anointed hugs I've ever experienced.  It started off like a regular hug, but then, she whispered in my ear...  "I sense the Love of God being poured out upon your head, right now!"

At the very moment she said that, I heard a "snap!" in the atmosphere.  Something broke!  Every piece of tension in my body released itself, and suddenly I began to weep.  The peace of God consumed me, right there and then.  "Don't move,"   I whispered in her ear, as we hugged a little longer.  To be honest, I wasn't sure I'd be able to stand if she were to let go of me at that moment.  LOL.

Out of the corner of her eye, Bonnie (who was facilitating the study) caught a glimpse of my tears.  "Let's just give it another minute or two here,"  she stated,  " I can see that God is doing some work in people's hearts."   Ahhhhh!   That's what I love about The Bonfire -- God has the liberty to do whatever He wants to do.  It's His agenda, not ours! 

Our sister, Bonnie, did eventually present a great word on "Pride Prevents Promotion." A message on Truth vs. Lies -- Humility vs. Pride -- God's Way vs. the Way of the World.   It was a time of learning for us all.  Ultimately, we learned the importance of opening ourselves up to the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to shine His light on us.

I have to laugh... because rarely do I think that I have problem.  But from time to time, I will hear God say...  "I'm talking to You, Gail!"  

"Me?  
You're talking to me?  
Seriously?
Oh my gosh... I didn't know!  
I didn't realize that I was even doing that!
Lord... Forgive me!
I don't want to be like that.
Rewire me! 
Do whatever it takes to change me.
Have mercy on me, Oh Lord!"

A wonderful sister...  Deepeka - a pastor's wife from Sri lanka  (near India) joined us.  She had a time to share about her ministry there and at the end we all gathered around, laid hands on her and prayed.  She was refreshed!

Ministry continued at Perkin's Restaurant.  That's where we all go for lunch.  Between bites of sandwiches, sips of soup and forks full of salad, people continued to testify, encourage and pray for one another.  All I know is that my dear sister, Norma, arrived for lunch one way, and left another way -- totally set free!  God is doing a wonderful work in her life.  I hate to even pick her out of the crowd, because everyone was getting ministered at the lunch table today.  God had something for everyone.  Talk about an after-party!  LOL.

Okay... so you know where Bonnie and I always end up after The Bonfire.  Yes... even still, ministry continued at Starbucks  where we ran into a friend and her husband.  Ahhhhh... talking about the things of God over a Chai latte is a nice way to spend the afternoon.  We were all fired up when it began to drizzle outside.  Off we headed, in different directions, all filled to capacity!


Finally, I headed out to an evening Bible study where a friend of mine finished up a four week study on The Vine and the Branches  (John 15).
It was summed up perfectly with this analogy:

 As Christians, we're all friends of God... 

but what kind of friend are you?  

A Casual friend?  

A Close friend?  

or an Intimate friend?  

I know I'm going for the gusto, and so are many of those around me.
I'm the one in RED shoes!

Gail