Day 285

It's Day 285 of The Red Shoe Project.  I have been in my RED high heels all day,  have finally kicked them off, and am ready to write!  It's been a day out with the girls.  First we celebrated a birthday.  Then we visited two gals from The Bonfire... one in rehab and the other in the hospital.  We were like a little power team of prayer warriors today.  What a productive day, and a lot of fun!

It's October  and  "Reaping"  season is here.   I'm realizing that I will be harvesting three different crops.

1. Money
2. Marriage
3. Ministry

When The Red Shoe Project began on January 1st of this year, I took my business, shelved it  and hung a sign on it that said, 

"Temporarily Closed for Restructuring."   

As I popped myself into RED shoes each day, I honestly believed that at some point, God would show me how to re-work my company.  Little did I know that, come October, my company would still be sitting on the shelf.  

The Red Shoe Project

 was just a little thing  I thought I'd do to help me stay focused on God.

I never expected it to become my entire life,  but it did and so did God!  Within weeks, God captivated me, winning my heart and my attention.

"Captivate" means...

 to attract and hold someone's interest, 

to charm,  enthrall,  fascinate,  delight,  win over.

I'll never forget the first message I heard on Giving.  I was a new Christian and the preacher talked about giving your Tithe, your Talent, and your Time.  In the past two years, I have added to that Harvest Porfolio,  Offerings,  Random Acts of Kindness and "Seeding." (Planting financially into other people's ministries and expecting a harvest in return.) 

All year, even with my limited income, planting season has been abundant in all of these areas.  That said, at some point, the harvest must come!

These last few days, I've been sharing with you the testimonies I'm experiencing first hand regarding my Financial Harvest.  The season has just begun and we are off to a good start!  Second on the list is the Harvest Field of Marriage.  My friends, Jim and Wendy just asked me, "What's happening with the marriage?"  Now before you get all excited...  No - There's no one yet!  LOL.  But I'm expecting! 

You'll remember that back in the spring, God told me that I'm going to be married.  Later, when I was in Scotland, He asked me to make a list describing my husband-to-be.  He said He already knew what I'd write, and that He'd already chosen the person that perfectly fit my description.  He wants to show me how detailed He can be in my life.  He urged me to "go overboard" with the specifics,  

just so He could prove to me that He 

knows me better than I know myself!  

I love when He does that!  So I did, in fact, make "The List."  I was looking it over today and it is, in fact, quite detailed.  I didn't leave out a thing.  I even added a couple more items just to make it complete.  When I  finally got up the nerve to read it to my daughters, they declared with excitement that they knew who it was that fit my wish list exactly!  Their response?  "Jesus."  LOL.

Seriously... I know that God will deliver on every one of my requests exactly.  You may think that's impossible, but He's done this to me before.  Such a thing is not difficult for Him.  How He does it, I do not know.  Does He plant the details in my mind before I even write them down and I just think that I came up with them myself????  Maybe.  LOL.  

At any rate, God has been speaking some pretty awesome things to my heart lately and my mind has been somewhat distracted - in a fun way.  It never ceases to amaze me how the thought of LOVE can so easily  transform us  to age 16 again.  POOF! -- just like that -- in an instant.   So I asked the Lord, "God... help me to refocus here and get back on track.  I don't have time to be day dreaming!  If this is unacceptable or just not what you're doing, can you please just shut off the switch?

Just then, I pulled up into the parking lot of Cakes by Ron to pick up a little cupcake for the birthday girl.  As I walked into the store, Ron Zammit -- the owner, cake decorator and a good family friend -- shouted to me from the back,  "Gail -- when should I start making your wedding cake?"  How bizarre is that?  I even asked him if he had read the blog about my getting married.  His response was "You're getting married?  To who?"  My response:  "Yes!"  and  "I don't know yet!"

Come on!  It's got to be a sign that this Marriage Harvest is close.  Don't you think?  I'm telling you... it's in the air.  I can feel it!  Wait a minute... didn't I just say these same words last week before the dam broke on the finances?  Could it be?  We shall see. 

And finally... The Harvest of Ministry.  That is a harvest I am already accustomed to -- only each year, as I grow in ministry -- I expect a bigger, more flourishing,  Harvest of Souls.  

God said 

that when I 

come home, 

He wants me 

to bring 

others 

with me!  

To that

 I am destined 

and devoted!

Blessings to you, dear friends!  May you be preparing your own harvest fields for a Season of Reaping.

In Red shoes, 

Gail

Day 284

It's getting close to midnight.  What a great 284th Day of  The Red Shoe Project!  As I sit here typing, still in my RED shoes, two words are rolling
off my tongue:

"THANKS  DAD!"

The other day, I looked at my big stack of books and  chose one at random.

Riches Stored 

in Secret Places, 

by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.

  "A Devotional Guide for 

Those Who Hunger After 

the Deep Things of God." 

Sounds like a good book, right?  Who knew that it contained such a powerful and timely message that would penetrate  my heart? 

Reading this book is easy.  The font size is nice and the chapters are short.  Even so, I am still -- after three days -- in chapter one.  I can't stop reading and re-reading the first three pages.  LOL!  They are so specific to where I am right now, I feel like I've hit a gold mine.  The key scripture is found in 

1 Corinthians 2:9-10.

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, 

no mind has conceived what God has

prepared for those who love him --

but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit."

It's no secret to my "Rubies" that my biggest challenge this year has been living by faith.  God has spent the last nine months, unwinding my mindset of the world's perspective on finances, and teaching me great and mighty things.  Knowledge, however, is nothing if it can't be applied!

Thereby, God has personally enrolled me in His Internship Program 

so that I can get true hands on experience.  Thus:  

 Living by Faith.

Let me share what Ms. Dean says that has grabbed ahold of me so profoundly... (It's found on page 11.)

"When I was a college student, I didn't pay my own bills.  My dad paid them.  Once I dropped a bill in the mail to him, I never worried about it.  In my mind, it became his bill immediately.  I cast all my debts on Dad and left them there.  Why?  Because he had promised to pay my bills, I knew that he had everything I needed available for me and with my best interest at heart, he always released it on my behalf when I asked."

I'm not going to get stuck on the fact that it took nine months of unwinding and preparing my heart and mind before Dad put this book in my hands.  I'm just eager to devour it, believing already that just as it's title declares, it contains, Riches Stored in Secret Places.   I don't know if you understand the challenge of Living by Faith, but finally I am on the brink of discovery!  Hallelujah!  

And  by the way...  Today was another day of reaping the harvest field!   A few months ago, God instructed me to take a gift to someone.  When I asked what I could possibly give this woman,  He instructed me to give her my favorite prayer book.  It was an old, old copy of John Baillie's  A Diary of Private Prayer.  Worn out, the book wasn't much to look at, but I treasured it all the same, for the words within it were precious to me.  Today, while browsing in the local used book store, I found another copy of this rare book -- $2.99 -- and in very good condition!  THANK YOU DAD!

When I got back home, a message awaited me on my phone.  Some friends invited to come by.  Little did I know that they would lavish me with dinner, a delightful time of uplifting conversation, and an array of gifts, which included a financial blessing that is a true answer to prayer.  GOD IS GOOD!

I don't like to talk about such matters regarding finances, however, you have been praying and believing with me, all this time.  The harvest has arrived and it is only right that you be blessed along with me in knowing that God is, in fact, faithful.  With that said, I will continue to report this good news!

Lovingly,

Your gal in  Red shoes,

Gail

Day 283

It's Day 283  of  The Red Shoe Project and all day I've been in my RED flats helping out various family members.  It's been a day of driving to this airport and that one, picking up and dropping off.

While I've been helping others, 

God has been busy, helping me!

It always catches me by surprise when He does this!  Every time -- when I finally I stop worrying about life -- and just go about my business -- specifically helping others -- God delivers!

• He comes through.
• He provides the goods.  
• He drops the blessing.
• He opens the door.
• He lights up the path.
• He declares the plan.
• He fulfills the promise.

Sometimes it's one of those things, sometimes it's many.  

It all started two days ago when something small and unusual happened.  I went into the grocery store to pick up a couple necessities.  My budget was limited, so I had to stick to just what was on my list.  One of those things was a little bottle of olive oil.  At the front of the store, there was a table set up with a woman giving samples of olive oil and a coupon for a special price.  I asked her  the price and she said, "With the coupon, $4.99."  I agreed to the sale and put the olive oil in my basket.  When going through the register, I thought the final amount seemed rather high.  I paid the bill, took my receipt and headed out the door.  

Oops!  They charged me $8.00 for that olive oil.  I went to the customer service desk to check on the matter, and the manager insisted on my not only keeping the olive oil,  but then she reimbursed me the $8.00.  Really?  No.  No.  I tried to tell the manager that didn't seem right, but she kept insisting that I was to take the money.  "But wait a minute!"  I responded. "You're giving me too much!"  Even still, she wouldn't take no for an answer, practically forcing the money in my hand with a smile.

Yesterday afternoon, my prayer partner and I met to discuss the things of God.  Right there and then, while we were together, an unexpected answer to prayer was delivered into my hands.  Praise the Lord!  I giggled with joy and shared the olive oil story with her.  "How bizarre is that? "  I asked. 

"It's a turning point!" she said.  "I'm telling you, it's started!  That olive oil incident might seem small, but it's just the beginning of  The Harvest of Blessing!"

Turning Point - a time at which an 

issue has been settled and a change 

in a situation occurs, especially one 

with beneficial results. 

Even today, the harvest continues.  I happened to be in the area of my friend's business, with a few minutes to spare, so I stopped in to see how her mother was recovering from a recent ailment.  She wasn't there, but another friend shouted, "Wait a minute, I have a gift for you!"  A gift?  "Yes, I saw this and thought of you!"   It was a beautiful container with a RED shoe on it.  How thoughtful of her!

When I finally arrived home this evening... What's this?  A note was waiting for me, telling me to look under my welcome mat.  There I found a rather large sum of money in an envelope with a letter that about blessed my socks off!  

"Do You hear the sound of abundance of rain?"  it said!

Before saying goodnight, my daughter and I, together, gave thanks to God and joyfully sang this famous hymn:

Great is Thy Faithfulness!

Great is Thy Faithfulness!

Morning by Morning

New mercies I see.

All I have needed, 

Thy hand hath provided.

Great is Thy Faithfulness...

Lord unto me!

Truly God's Harvest of Blessing has just begun!  You know a blog only allows me space enough to share  highlights.  There are signs that other dams may be about to burst as well -- Other prayers and promises about to be fulfilled.  I will let you know.  

In Red shoes, 

Gail

Day 282

Day 282 of  The Red Shoe Project found me teaching in RED shoes at  The Bonfire Women's Bible Study.  A couple of interesting conversations came up while we continued our study of the spiritual gifts found in
1 Corinthians 12:7-11.  Today we were focusing on the Gifts of Healing.

During our discussion, the topic of "Resistance"  came up.

"Resistance"    is  the  refusal  to  accept 

or comply with something;  the attempt to

prevent something by action or argument.

Of course, none of us, consciously, resist when it comes to healing.  You're sick -- you go up to the prayer line for healing -- and you do that because you want to be made well.  Or do you?

"When Jesus  saw him lying there 

and learned that he had been in this 

condition for a long time, He asked him,

 "Do you want to get well?"

John 5:5

Our discussion today focused not on people who don't want to be well, but more so on people who want to be well but, for whatever reason, can't seem to get a healing.  For some, years have gone by.  They've tried everything.  They've been to doctor after doctor.  They've gone to this prayer group and that.  And... NOTHING!  Nothing has happened!   

One gal gave an interesting testimony of how she was scheduled for back surgery, but chose to go to  a conference with a friend first.  In extreme pain, she endured the long ride there, hoping that God would heal her and the surgery would be unnecessary.   En route, something was said by her friend that caused a slight spirit of contention between them.  Upon arrival at the conference, the Spirit of God was moving powerfully, and the time came to pray for healing.  The friend laid hands on the injured woman to pray, and nothing was happening. God was doing all sorts of miracles all around them, but not with her.   At that moment, God spoke to the injured woman clearly. "You're resisting!"  He said.  She couldn't believe that God had called her on it.  She didn't want to admit it, but she realized it was true.  She immediately confessed her sin and BOOM!  -- The Spirit of God moved through the friend and into the woman like rushing water from a broken dam.  The woman flew backwards landing on the floor.  The Power of God was so strong, she couldn't get up for the longest time.  Then suddenly, she got up and walked away, completely healed.  The surgery was cancelled. 

Another friend shared her story.  She was visiting Jerusalem with a group of friends.  During a tour, the group had to go down some stairs into a room to view a place where Jesus had been.  Because of her asthma, the woman had to wait outside.  She so desperately wanted to take a look and couldn't.  She bowed her head and said, "Lord, either heal this asthma or take me home!  I can stand it no longer!"  BOOM!  Her asthma was healed and she joyfully joined the group.

Motivational speaker and author, Pat Mesiti says...

"You will not change until 

the pain of staying the same 

becomes greater than 

the pain of change."

"Change doesn't happen by 

chance, but by choice.  

And that's often triggered 

by something."

"I can't stand it anymore!!!   This is what the Word of God says!  

It works for others, but for some reason it's not working for me!"

There's all sorts of reasons why things that should happen, don't.  Sometimes there's unconfessed sin.  Sometimes it's fear.  Sometimes there's spiritual warfare at work.  The list goes on and on.  Sometimes, because something doesn't happen the first time, or the way we wanted or expected it to, we close up.  We decide that it must not be for us.  We make excuses.  We determine it's not God's will.  We do lots of things that could be considered RESISTING.  Know this...

The enemy is at work!

He's a deceiver!

Lying is his native language!

He wants to rob you of your healing!

Don't let him!  Victory is yours!  Keep trying!  Keep going back!  Do what I like to refer to as "Wrestling with God" (Genesis 22:34)  That's when you grab ahold of God's Word and in all your frustration, you work it out with God.  You say... "I don't get it God!  You're Word says this and it's not happening!  I'm not going to let go of you until you bless me!"  Careful!  Your life will never be the same after a wrestling match with God.  

Someone once got very angry with me on this matter.  She felt that it was wrong and sinful to do such a thing.  I beg to differ here.  Jacob is our Biblical example of this being acceptable.  And not just that -- God blessed Jacob and changed his name to Israel immediately afterwards.  God understands our human frustration.  You think you want to understand.  God wants you to understand even more!  He wants you to "get it!" -- the understanding you're yearning for as well as the blessing! 

Okay, so my whole point here is:    Don't give up!  Work it out with God!  If something isn't working for you, ask God to reveal why. Then follow through on what He tells you.  Don't drop the ball.  Keep going!  And just in case you're wondering,  "Wrestling with God"   could take minutes... or it could take hours, days, months,  even years.  Dont' expect a 3 minute round.  

Are you ready for change? 

Wrestling in Red Shoes,

Gail