Day 324 and 325

Today was  Day 324 of  The Red Shoe Project,  and I couldn't stand it any longer!  My two pairs of RED flats are completely worn out, so I headed out the door with a mission in mind:

 To get a new pair of  RED shoes!

Today was a bit of a solemn day for me.   My heart has been aching!  What's with that?  Sometimes I wonder about the time when God told me I would be married.  Without my even realizing what He was doing,  He healed my wounded heart.  Somehow -- just hanging out with God each day -- my heart recovered.  You know... if I knew He was doing that, I would have put my guard up.  But I didn't know.  I was just enjoying fellowship with Him and -- well -- His love is like a medicine.  It soothes and it heals!

"I will remove from you your heart of stone 

and give you a heart of flesh."

Ezekiel 36:26

Yes... I realize this scripture is out of context, but it so symbolizes the miraculous work that God has done in me.  On another note...  Remember the movie, The Wizard of Oz?   As Dorothy is about to go home,  the Tin Man proclaims,  "Now I know I have a heart, because it's breaking!" 

I must admit, I don't like my heart being so exposed.  I don't like it at all!   BUT... I've come to realize that when I put up my guard, I not only shut the door to what I want to protect myself from -- I shut the door to everything.  Let's face it,  relationships are effected when we put up walls --  perhaps even my relationship to God.  So as challenging as it is,  I've chosen not to close down -- shut out -- or cover up my heart.  I want my heart to remain tender.

Don't get me wrong, my heart isn't available for everyone and anyone.  And I'd be lying if I said my heart was totally exposed and unguarded.  BUT... in my black and white world, I'm learning to be gray.   I want to receive all the love that God is willing to pour on me,  and  I'm trusting that He will  protect me from predators.

That said... the Lord has been prompting my heart these last two days for more alone time with Him.  With my oldest daughter up in New England now, and Pauly -- the bulldog -- no longer at my side,  it's been different.  I don't want to say lonely, because I'm not lonely.  I just have more time to myself that I'm not used to.  He reminded me today of what He told me.  

"It will be just Me and You for a while!"

I wonder how long "a while"  is?
LOL.  

10 days?  

10 weeks?  

10 years?  

No matter.  He's tugging on my heart 

to join Him in the Prayer Closet.  

A dear friend of mine recently told me about a time in which she was really sick.  She had a bad reaction to some medicine she was given by her doctor.  At one point, she started to fade out and thought she was going to slip away to Heaven.  She noted that the "drawing power"  to leave her body and be with the Lord was magnetic.  In that moment, she thought to herself...  "I wish I'd done more"  and  BOOM!  she came back.

Tonight I was talking with a student of mine.  We were discussing near death experiences and people who have claimed to have seen Heaven.  She spoke of an article she read in which a woman described what prayers looked like in Heaven.  Apparently they were portrayed as these vibrant streams of color --  the most vivid ones being the prayers of mothers for their children.  WOW!  Talk about a change of perspective.  I just wanted to run right home, get in the prayer closet, and pray up a storm!

It doesn't matter whether or not this person or that person has really been to Heaven or not.  Their story and perception of prayer has enlightened me -- inspired me -- motivated me -- perhaps even elevated me to that next level of prayer.  

I can't resist the tugging any longer.  

I'm going in -- without my RED shoes.  

I'll wear them tomorrow.
Tonight I'm responding to The One 
who holds my heart in His hands.

Gail

Day 325

I've been running around in my new RED shoes on this 325th Day of  The Red Shoe Project.  It's been a great day, but I can't wait for it to be over!  Are you kidding me?  He's been tugging at my heart all day, and I can't seem to slip away from life and get myself into the prayer closet for any extended amount of time.  Sorry -- but a few minutes just won't do!!!


Today was a "Bonfire" day.  It's my busiest day for ministry.  The morning starts early with Pre-Bonfire prayer and set up.   The early afternoon is a fellowship luncheon.  Later in the day, I meet with my mentor for testimony time, teaching and debriefing.  And the evening is my church Bible study.  It's a jam packed day and I love every minute of it -- except for when Jesus is calling -- when He's tugging on my heart strings for me to get alone with Him.   I wish I could just drop everything and go, but that wouldn't be right.  I have responsibilities.

The Holy Spirit has been relentless in His pursuit of me today.  He talked with me throughout the morning.  He seemed part of every conversation I had. We chatted continually -- mostly in my head.  Just call us inseparable!  By late afternoon,  I started talking about the "Divine Drawing"  I was experiencing.

"Divine Drawing"  is when the Lord 

magnetically pulls you into His presence.

Our Bible study always starts with the telling of testimonies.  One of the first to contribute, talked about sharing his faith with a friend.  Somehow we ended up talking about  John 6:44  in which Jesus states, 

"No one can come to me 

unless the Father who 

sent me draws him"

The next person shared a prayer that he had learned back in his youth while attending Catholic church.  The words of the prayer were awesome!  It lead us into a discussion of the difference between reciting a liturgical prayer vs. saying the prayer whole-heartedly unto God with utmost sincerity.  Same words -- just one is repetition and the other is truly heart felt.  What a difference!  The second will draw you right into the prayer chamber, front and center with God.

That got us talking about music.  Everyone loves the Worship Team at our church.  One of my Christian brothers always says...

"Worship is when the music 

is no longer just a song."

Everyone could identify with this example.  They have all experienced getting lost in the music with their souls crying out to God!  A gifted worship leader doesn't just enter into the Holy of Holies in song, while the congregation watches.  Oh no!  He enters in with passion, leaves the door open and beckons the congregation to come in with him!  Praise the Lord!  Is there anything better than having the Holy Spirit draw you into the Holy of Holies?  I think not!

Our conversation tonight continued for two hours straight.  We never did get to the Bible study.  It was as if the Lord had drawn us into His chosen conversation for the evening.  That's fine with all of us!  The Holy Spirit is always welcome to direct our group.   What was the result?   "The Prayer Pact."

There were five of us tonight at group.  One happened to mention that he gets on his knees when he prays at night.  He noted that he often feels a little inhibited when we pray at the end of our meetings, standing up in a circle, holding hands.  Even in our group, he feels compelled to kneel.  With that, I announced...

"Feel free to kneel anytime you want, Brother!  

You have total liberty to do that here.

As we went to close our meeting in prayer, one brother said to the other... 

"If you want to get on your knees right now, 

I'll get on my knees with you."  

The rest of us looked at one another.  

"Well, we can't let you guys do that and not follow!"  

We all got down on our knees and prayed together.  

When it was over, we made 

"The Prayer Pact."  

"Let's just do this all the time!"  

"Why not?"  

"I'm in!"

"Me too!" 

"Count me in!"

We turned and gave each other high fives!  

"Yes!  We're all in!"

So what do you think?  Did the Holy Spirit draw us into that decision?  

How great is that?  Five people agreed with one another to get on their knees and pray together at all our upcoming Bible studies.  

Yeah... that's a God-thing!  

Amen.

I came home and my blog was waiting to be written.  I totally enjoyed recounting the details of the day.  But even still, I can feel that...

  TUG -- TUG -- TUG   

No worries!  My calendar for tomorrow is clear and 

 I've reserved the entire day for Him.  Cant' wait!

In RED shoes, 

Gail

Day 323

Today  is Day 323 of  The Red Shoe Project.  It's Sunday and I am sporting my comfy RED flats.  Officially it is a day of rest.  Although I am doing my best to relax, my mind has been focusing on the word...

"Splendor"

Spendor   is another word for:    Majesty  --  Glory  --  Magnificence

This reminds me of one of my favorite portions of scripture:  Isaiah 6:1-8

"I saw the Lord,  seated on a throne,  high and exalted, 

and the train of his robe filled the temple."

Isaiah saw the Lord!  Can you imagine the splendor of it all?   I'm not sure I can even come close to really understanding what that was truly like.   Seraphs calling out to one another...

"Holy,  holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;

the whole earth is full of His glory!"

Whatever he saw was so spectacular -- so splendiferous -- so majestic --  that he thought he was going to die!

"Woe is me!  I am ruined!  

For I am a man of unclean lips!"

The angel touched his mouth with a hot, burning coal and announced that his sins had been atoned for.  Next thing you know, God spoke... 

"Whom shall I send?

Who will go for us!"

And Isaiah -- in such awe of His splendor -- couldn't seem to resist volunteering...

"Here I am!  Send me!"

Oh... how many times over the years did I run to the altar in response to someone preaching and asking "Who will go?"  I can't count them all.  

There were many!  

One time, in particular, sticks out in my mind as if it were just yesterday.  

I was a young Christian attending  North Providence Assembly of God  in Rhode Island.   My eyes were closed -- my hands lifted high -- tears running down my face.   My heart was pounding in my chest.    From the depths of my soul I cried out...

"Lord!  Send me!  I will go!" 

Who knew that God would take me up on that response so many times.  I've never yet been sent to Africa,  India  or  Japan.  But I have been sent to Washington state,  Florida and the Corporate World.  I've delivered food baskets to the needy.  I've visited hospitals to pray for the sick.  I even helped build an irrigation system in the hills of the Dominican Republic.  I never expected He would send me to any of those people or places.  Not to mention that,  many times past and many times present, He sent me right out my front door -- to teach Bible studies -- to Christmas carol -- to hold discussion groups.  All with the ultimate purpose of introducing Him to the world.  The list  is endless.    

Today... I'm still responding to that plea,  

"Lord send me! -- in Red Shoes!"  

What about you?

Gail

Day 322

It's Day 322 of  The Red Shoe Project.  My Ruby Reds are on my feet and I have hit the road to visit my mom for a couple days.  First thing this morning, I checked in with God and gave Him my day.  I asked Him to bless it and am believing that He is directing my path.

"Trust in the Lord will all your heart.

Lean not on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

and He will direct your path."

Proverbs 3:5-6

That said, I know that He is aware of every step that I take and is in control of every situation I encounter.  How comforting.  It's good to have a best friend and constant companion that is omnipotent, (all-powerful).  His nick name is:

"Almighty God!"

Today God has been continually reminding me to TRUST HIM.  He knows that I am human and thereby have difficulty understanding some of the things of God.  The Holy Spirit has that wonderful characteristic of being omniscient,  (all-knowing).  I don't.   Just because God tells me what He's going to do, doesn't mean I understand how that's going to happen.  Most often I don't have a clue.

Standing on the promises of God -- Believing by faith that God will do what He says He will do -- Whew!  It has it's challenges.  Rarely can see the BIG PICTURE.  And even if I could, His divine plan often doesn't seem do-able -- at least not in human terms.

"With man this is impossible,

but with God all things are possible!"

Matthew 19:26

Remember when I was talking about the person who spoke a word over me that was in opposition to the word God spoke over me?  God told me go THIS way and someone else told me to go THAT way.  I'm finding that people do that all the time.  They say things like:

 "That could never happen."  

or  "I wouldn't go that way!"  

or  "That's crazy!"  

They mean well, but they don't realize that sometimes they are speaking a word to me that's opposite of what God has said.  Without realizing it, that can cause DOUBT when I should be operating in FAITH.  Hmmmm.

Okay, so as I wonder how often I've been the one who has unknowingly said something like that, I am realizing that I can't fix what other people say.  Instead, I have to recognize when people are saying those things to me, and disassemble those words accordingly.  Like an expert on the bomb-squad going in and disassembling a bomb before it goes off,  I need to take apart an opposing word  before it impacts my behavior.  I have to defuse it!  

I don't have to make a big deal about it.  I can take care of things without anyone knowing the better.  I don't have to explain the details of God's plan.  I don't have to win everyone to my way of thinking.   Hey...  I have trouble understanding it all myself, why would I think that others would embrace it, when it doesn't even concern them?  

Yeah... often it's best to defuse quietly and move on.  Perhaps what is really happening is that I am looking to others for reassurance, confidence and support, when what I should be doing is talking to God about it.  
(Just thinking out loud.)

Sometimes God just says 

"TRUST ME!"  

Remember when Moses lead the Israelites out of captivity and they came to the Red Sea?  He shouted to them...

"Do not be afraid.  Stand firm 

and you will see the deliverance 

the LORD will bring you today."

Exodus 14:13

Take a moment to Read Exodus 14.  I know that many of you know that story.  Sometimes it's not enough to just remember the story.  You don't get the full impact.  For me,  reading it gives the Holy Spirit the opportunity to anoint it.  That's when it comes right off the page and God makes it real to me, personally.  I don't want to miss that!

That's what God spoke to me today.  Now, I'm going to slip off my RED shoes and meditate on it.  I'm going to let it marinate -- simmer -- allow it time for the fullness of it's meaning to embrace my heart. 

Talk to you tomorrow, 

Gail

Day 321

I hate to say it, but Day 321 of  The Red Shoe Project was another day of cleaning.  In the morning I had on my RED work shoes and did yard work.  (You know how I hate yard work!)  And in the afternoon, I popped on my RED flip flops  and finished off cleaning the bathroom.  If you want to get a glimpse of Heaven, all you have to do is walk into my bathroom.  First thing in the morning, the sun is shining right in the window and everything is sparkling.  It's so bright in there it's almost blinding!  LOL.

To be honest, I've been enjoying the solitude.  Most days, I'm up and out the door, living life and looking for God.  Cleaning days are quiet days.  Sometimes I like quiet.  I like the peacefulness of it all.  When I've had enough quiet, I listen to the Bible on CD.  If I'm going to scrub away for hours, I might as well take in the Word of God while  I'm at it.

I've learned the importance of filling my mind with something profitable.  Have you ever noticed that if your mind is empty for too long, the devil will try depositing his garbage in there.  At one point today I had to shout at him,

"Don't drop your garbage off here!  

It's private property -- now get off!"

For a while there, I had myself a little prayer meeting.  I don't tolerate the enemy stepping into my camp like that.  Really?  Who does he think he is?  The fact is, too often we let the enemy walk right in and treat him almost as if he were a guest.  Our culture has become so politically correct, it's started to seep into our spiritual camp.  God forbid that we offend the enemy.  NOT!!!   TRASH is TRASH, no matter how you look at it.  And if there's one thing that I've learned from all this cleaning it's this...

You have to stay on top of it,

otherwise, it builds up fast!

I can't help but think of that old pentecostal chorus...

"I went to the enemy's camp and I

took back what he stole from me.

Took back what he stole from me. 

Took back what he stole from me.

I went to the enemy's camp and I 

took back what he stole from me.

He's under my feet!  He's under my feet!

He's under my feet!  He's under my feet!

He's under my feet!  He's under my feet!

Satan is under my feet!"

Of course, when we would sing this chorus, we wouldn't do it quietly. We would make gestures with our hands as if we were grabbing back what the enemy had stolen from us. And when we got to the part about his being under our feet, we'd jump up and down and stomp on that carpet like there was no tomorrow!

That said, I feel a little prayer meeting coming on right now!  What better time to tackle the enemy and take back what's mine?  Why don't you join me?  Why not stop what you're doing right now, get in the zone and battle it out with the enemy.  I'm serious!

"I will repay you for the years 

the locusts have eaten."

Joel 2:25

I don't know about you, but I'm putting on my praise 

and my RED dancing shoes and going for it!

Gail