Day 331

It's Day 331 of  The Red Shoe Project and what a day it has been in RED shoes.  I shouldn't be surprised.  God drew me out of bed this morning as if it were Christmas Day.  I'm serious!  My eyes weren't even open yet, and the
Holy Spirit was bubbling over in my heart.

"Come on!  Get up!  Get up!  

It's going to be a GREAT day!"

It so reminded me of Christmas morning when the kids were small.  Everyone knew that no one went down stairs to the Christmas tree until everyone was out of bed, faces washed and teeth brushed.  Without fail, the first one awake, woke up everyone else. The air was filled with anticipation and excitement,
and we were never disappointed!

I wondered what God had in store for today.  Oh yes... Pastor Dan at Harvest Tabernacle announced yesterday that tonight was the night they would be giving over 500 turkey baskets to those in need at a special Thanksgiving service.  I had arranged to help out.  Right at the moment I remembered that, the Holy Spirit jumped within me.

"That's it!  That's it!"  He shouted.

"I love when they do this!"

Quite frankly, after experiencing all that glee, I couldn't wait to attend the event myself.  I'm fairly new to this church, so I wasn't sure what to expect.  But at that moment, all I could wonder was...

"What is the Holy Spirit 

 doing in my heart?  

Is He dancing?  

It feels like He's having 

His own private party!" 

My friends Jim and Carolyn picked me up after dinner and we drove to the church together.  We arrived just in time for a volunteer exhortation by the pastor.  He doesn't like anyone to feel odd or embarrassed about being in need, so when they come in the door, we have a receiving line where everyone is clapping and whistling, shaking hands and greeting the people.  There's lots of smiles and good cheer.

I found myself a place at the end of the receiving line and joined in the celebration.  I never clapped so much in my entire life.  I found myself shouting,

"Happy Thanksgiving!  

We're glad you're here!"  

Most people were very merry and responded warmly.  If one seemed a little unnoticed, I tried to make it a point to touch their shoulder, look in their eyes and smile right at them.  "I'm so glad you came tonight!"  I said.  And I followed it with a hug!

Everyone filed into the sanctuary and found a seat.  The place was filled to capacity.  How great is that?  The worship team put on a great concert and special guest, Sheila Raye Charles (the daughter of Ray Charles) belted out some awesome songs of inspiration and words of encouragement.  Pastor Jim shared a short but inspiring message that concluded with just about everyone calling out to Christ for salvation.

Finally, row by row, people went out the church and were given a box filled with food and a large, turkey.  The food line was so busy.  Carolyn and I were running back and forth, stocking the boxes with various foods.  Everyone was happy and helpful, working together to make it all come together.

A lot of people will be eating a nice Thanksgiving meal due to the efforts and donations of many people and businesses.

But tonight was so much more 

than a food basket!  

At one point during the evening, Carolyn and I snuck up into the balcony where we could see, from above, the entire auditorium.  I took a good look at the crowd.  They were engaged in everything that was going on.  Many had smiles on their faces.  Some were clapping.  Some were singing.  Some were dancing.  Some were praying.  And then right in front of my eyes I saw it!

HOPE was filling their souls.

Ahhhh... a special touch by the Holy Spirit, Himself!

Actually, the Holy Spirit was all over the place tonight.  He was in the welcoming shouts and hugs of the greeters.  He was observed stirring the hearts of people during the concert.  I witnessed Him quietly whispering to the souls of many during the pastor's message.  I heard testimonies of His moving though prayer partners at the altar -- healing hurts and afflictions right there on the spot.  And when things really got busy, He was seen time and time again in the smiles and kind gestures of all the volunteers that showed up to partner with Him.  He used every one of them!  It's no wonder He loves this event!

What is it that Jesus said?  (Luke 10:27, my paraphrase)

If you're only going to do 

two things right in this world...

(1)  Love God with everything you've got!

 - and - 

(2)  Love the people God puts in your life!  

I saw evidence of both those things tonight, 

while wearing my RED shoes

at The Harvest!

Gail  

Day 330

Day 330 of  The Red Shoe Project has just begun and my RED shoes are not even on my feet yet.  God woke me up early -- well before the sun had come up --  and I have been at war in the prayer closet, pulling down strongholds and prophesying over the lives of family and friends for God's will to be accomplished in their lives.   Glory of God! 

I'm not sure what time it was.  I was having a dream.  It was one of those dreams where you sense the devil is after you.  I was almost paralyzed by fear.  I tried calling out for help, but  nothing was coming out of my mouth.

  Then suddenly...

 the Name of Jesus slipped off my lips.  

At that point, it was all over -- not for me -- but for the enemy.  He was done!  Don't be messing with my sleep!  Like an alarm going off at the fire house, I jumped out of bed, threw on the lights, and unconsciously began to function in the role I'm called to:

Volunteer Prayer Warrior!  

Without hesitation, I slipped from my bed and onto my knees.  I called forth the angels of God to cover me with their wings and I began to intercede.  One minute I was praying in English, the next minute I was praying in the Spirit.  I could sense the enemy trying to get in my head.  I was still half asleep.


I reached upward and threw on the light.  I got to my feet, threw on my robe and began to pace back and forth.  Watch out!  You know what happens when I start pacing!

Faces of ministers rushed into my mind and I prayed for each and every one of them as the Spirit lead me.  I saw large crowds of people in a foreign land. I cursed the strongholds around them and proclaimed freedom, healing and salvation upon them.  BOOM!  BOOM!  BOOM!  One after another, God brought the lives of my brothers and sisters in Christ to mind.  I prayed for each and every one of them until the sun came up!

"Blow the trumpet in Zion;

sound the alarm on my holy hill.

Let all who live in the land tremble,

for the day of the LORD is coming

It is close at hand --"

Joel 2:1

It's 7:16 a.m.  As quickly as the Spirit came, He has departed.  The emergency is over --  for now.  God is preparing His people for battle!  Are you ready?  When the alarm sounds do you know what to do?  Will you slip out of bed and pray?  Will you pull down strongholds so that the army of God can fight victoriously -- winning souls, delivering the oppressed, healing the sick?

I'm writing my blog early today, then I'm off to church.   I'm expecting a mighty move of God!  I can't wait to sing praises to my King!

In RED shoes, 

Gail

Day 329

It's  Day 329 of  The Red Shoe Project and I am laying low in my RED shoes today, resting after a night of ministry and very aware of something interesting that has been going on for several days now.

It's a tug-of-war of sorts.

It's so subtle.  I wake up every morning realizing that there's only four or five weeks left before this Red Shoe Project is over.  Time is running out.  The clock is ticking.  With all the stripping away of self, here I am -- finally -- closer than ever before to the heart of God.

In one ear I hear... "I can't wait to spend time with the Lord today.  I wonder what we'll do?  I wonder what He'll say?  Yes!  It's going to be an awesome time in His presence! "

In the other ear I hear...  "What are you going to do today?  Aren't you bored yet?  Maybe you should catch a movie?  Perhaps someone will want to go out and do something.  Stop your lingering and find something productive to do!  Come on -- Let's get out of here!"

I'm laughing to myself as I write this, because now, it all seems so blatant.  The good news is that I am not giving my attention to that demon spirit and his antics.  I'm very much aware of the fact that...

NOW is the time!

• to sit in His presence,
• to embrace His love,
• to listen to His whispers,
• to enjoy His company,
• to be attentive to His call,
• to take note of what He's saying,
• to put my ear to his chest and listen to His heartbeat.

I'm not going anywhere.  I want it all!   And it's right here in front of me!

"My heart says of you, 'Seek his face!"

Your face, LORD, I will seek."

Psalm 27:8

In the prayer chamber,  in Red shoes, 

Gail

Day 328

Today was Day 328 of  The Red Shoe Project.  My Ruby Reds were on my feet and I was out the door early to meet up with some friends over coffee.  You guessed it -- Starbucks was the cafe of choice!  

Three chai tea lattes, please!

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Bonnie made an interesting observation while out having breakfast with her husband at a local diner.  All of a sudden,  she became aware of all of the conversations that were going on around her.  The table to one side of her was talking about all the medicines they were taking.  Between this prescription, that one and another, they were overwhelmed by the expense of it all.  Another table was discussing ailments of various sorts and the details of medical procedures, etc. etc.  Still another table was talking about the downfall of our country, economy and politics.  

It was all BAD news!

She began to wonder what it would be like if, instead, she were  hearing uplifting conversations about the things of God.  Wouldn't it be great if this table was discussing how someone they knew personally got healed in Jesus' Name.  What if that table was discussing the great things God was speaking to them in prayer. And what if that table, over there, couldn't seem to keep quiet about the miracles they saw on their recent missions trip!  You get the picture. 

We can't change what other people talk about, 

but we can certainly choose what we talk about!

Today as Bonnie and I sat in Starbucks with our friend Karen, we chatted for hours about God.  Between lessons learned, what the Bible says about this and that, encounters with angels, healing from diseases and deliverance from addictions -- well let's just say the man sitting behind us got an earful of great and promising news!

But no... that wasn't enough!  When we realized that it was well past lunch time, we moved our little party over to a nearby restaurant and continued our discussion of the deep things of God.  We were doing it!  Without even thinking about it, we were sharing the Good News!  We were refusing to follow the way of the world.  We were living boldly for Jesus and not giving a hoot what other people were thinking!  

Don't you think our world needs more of that?  

Please don't let the ball drop with us.  Begin to testify to one another of the Goodness of God!  Don't worry about eavesdroppers.  You want people to hear what your talking about.  Who knows... you may change someone's day for the better.  You may spread hope to someone who's desperately looking for it.  Maybe someone will even join you and ask...

"What must I do to be saved?"

That would be grand -- wouldn't it?  You just never know the effect a "Divine Testimony"  will have on those around you. 

"Many of the Samaritans from that town 

believed in Him because of the woman's testimony!"

John 4:39

In Red shoes, 

Gail