Day 358

Day 358 of  The Red Shoe Project just happens to be Christmas eve.  Some days never turn out as you expect them to, -- RED shoes or not!  Today was one of those days.  I awoke at 9 a.m.  to a text message from my dearest friend.  She had taken her husband -- who was experiencing severe chest pains --  to the emergency room at 3 a.m. and was now waiting to talk to the doctors.  Within minutes, people were lifting up prayers to the Lord.  With that, the peace of God fell upon her and by early evening, her and her husband were on their way home for Christmas with a prescription for a change of diet.  That was such an answer to prayer!  Thank you Jesus!

Late in the afternoon, I joined my friend at the hospital and we had a bite to eat together.  By that time, the scare was over.  God has shown Himself faithful.  She was grateful knowing that within hours they would be home resting this Christmas eve.  As we sat there in the little cafe drinking ice tea and munching on our veggie sandwiches, I realized how blessed I was to have such a great friend.  I was glad to be there with her.  As we talked about the Lord and His goodness, all I could think about was:

"What a great way to spend Christmas eve!

The church I attend had four Christmas eve. services starting at 3:30.  I went to the very first one,  just to be sure that I didn't end up missing out.  It was wonderful.  What I enjoyed most of all, however, was the ride from the parking lot to the front door of the church.  My friend, Dirk, was a volunteer for the special services and saw me get out of my car.  He whipped over in the little golf cart and offered me a ride to the door.

"Merry Christmas!"  he announced, 

bringing joy to my soul.  

"Merry Christmas!" I responded.  

You see, Dirk is one of the guys that rededicated His life to Christ this past year in my Starting Point discussion group.  Earlier today, he messaged me that he had been thinking about what I had said regarding Divine Partnership.  

"I'm a military man,"   he told me.  

"Instead of partnering with God, 

I prefer to think of myself as a 

soldier in God's army!"   

How awesome is that?  It brings joy to my soul that he sees himself as a warrior for God!  What a great Christmas present!  Thank you Jesus!

Later in the evening, my youngest daughter announced that she needed me to help her with a important craft project she was working on.  It's been many years since I worked on such artistic endeavors of the sort. Regardless, we put our heads together and tackled the job.  Several hours later, we successfully completed our task.   It was Christmas eve.  -- just the two of us -- sprawled out on the floor with ribbons, scissors, a hot glue gun, glitter and more.  Working together like that on a specific project was really rather glorious!  There we were functioning as a team!  Now that it's over,  I find myself shouting in my soul, "Thank you Lord for such a blessing!"  I can't quite put into words what that was all about, but it was one of my best Christmas eve's ever!

Today was filled with all sorts of Christmas festivities.  To name a few, there were  Christmas carols, last minute shopping, not one but two Christmas messages, candle lightings, and even a snow machine.  Don't get me wrong, all those things were great.

But what has me as content as can be 

is the time I spent with my family and friends 

along with the assurance in my heart that Jesus is Lord!

Merry Christmas dear friends!

Gail

Day 357

Today is  Day 357 of  The Red Shoe Project.  Oh my gosh!   As I sit here gazing at my RED shoes I'm just now realizing that there's only 8 days left in the year.  Where has the time gone?  There's part of me that wants to start planning for the New Year, but God continues to remind me not to jump ahead.  That's probably been one of the biggest lessons I've learned this year...

Staying in the present moment.

God's always telling me...

Forget about 

the past!

Focus on today!

No forging into tomorrow, 

until it arrives!

The Red Shoe Project is all about looking for God today and writing about that experience.  Holding onto yesterday prevents me from moving forward and experiencing all that God has for me today!  God only knows how many blessings I lost, in days of old, when I spent way too much time thinking about what could've and should've been.  It's easy to get trapped in those places, but once you're set free, you make it a point never to be ensnared again!

Rushing into tomorrow is just as much of a challenge and I've found that there's usually a lot of worry attached to it.  "What if this happens?"  or  "What if that doesn't happen?"  Worrying is a time waster and more often than not, it's the stomping ground of spiritual warfare.  If you want to spend your time there, prepare for a struggle.  I've learned that walking away from it is far more productive.  If I have concerns, I pray and present those concerns to God immediately and move on with my day.

Lately I've been using "the secret weapon." A day doesn't goes by in which I'm not bombarded with crazy thoughts that want to pull me into the past or push me into the future. Sometimes the littlest things will trigger thoughts and behaviors of my past life.  It might be a song or a smell...  a particular place or an activity -- even the mere mention of a name. 

BOOM!  Like a hook on the end of a fishing line, it snags me and attempts to reel me into a past memory.   I've learned to take authority in Jesus' Name  and break the line!  With that,  I begin praying in the Spirit.  I've noticed that when I pray in the Spirit, the spiritual warfare immediately backs off!  It's instantaneous relief!  Ahhhhhhhh!  

Far too often, I don't know what's going on, let alone how to specifically deal with it, so I let the Holy Spirit pray for me.  He's specifically equipped to do just that!   Lately I've been praying a lot in the Spirit -- quite a lot!   It's a lot easier and a lot more productive than worrying!

Just this past week, God has repeated something to me three times: "WAIT!"

He doesn't want me making decisions on my own about the New Year.  

He has a plan, and He will reveal it to me in due time.   

A friend of mine told me an interesting story the other day.  Years ago, she and her husband knew a couple that was going through some difficult financial struggles.  Their house was about to foreclose.  They needed $10,000 in order to stop the foreclosure and get things back on track.  The two couples prayed together for God's divine provision and unanimously felt that God was saying, "WAIT!"  

Later that day, my friend and her husband sensed that God wanted them to give the couple the $10,000 they needed.   With that in mind, they went to the bank and made arrangements to get the money.  Meanwhile, a day -- maybe two-- went by and the other couple announced to them that they had decided to move forward and filed for bankruptcy.  Little did they know that my friend and her husband had the check in hand and were about to deliver it.  But the door of opportunity to assist was now shut  -- prematurely -- because the couple did not yield to God's direction to:  "WAIT!"  

Many of you have asked what I will be doing in the New Year.  Today, I am not sure.  For now,  I am waiting.  I'm praying a lot in English and I'm praying a lot in the Spirit.  I'm doing my best to stay in the present, so that I can give all I've got to God in these last Red Shoe Project days.  You'll find me worshipping and praising God whenever possible, and you know I'm always looking for an opportunity to testify of His goodness!  I am confident that He will let me know what's next, when He's ready -- probably as the ball is dropping in Times Square on New Year's eve!

In Red Shoes, 

Gail

Day 356

Day 356 of  The Red Shoe Project finds me in RED socks, with my feet up, relaxing.  Today is my day off from ministry.  Though I may be off my feet, my mind is filled with the great things God is doing all around me.  There's one thing in particular that  has me as jolly as can be.

The mother of a good friend of mine has been attending one of my Bible studies.  I think she is just wonderful.  Now if you knew her you'd think, "She could be a little feisty!"  But she's never feisty with me -- she's simply wonderful.


It goes both ways!  This woman just loves me.  She doesn't have to tell me that, I can feel it!  In fact, I have no doubt in my mind, whatsoever, that God has given me divine favor with this woman.  She loves me like a daughter!  She's my # 1 fan.  She doesn't hesitate to lift me up in conversation to her family and friends.

 On the other hand,  I love her like a mom!  She can do no wrong.  I can't wait to see her!  I love having her in my group and try to honor her whenever possible.

What's with all that?  

It's really rather comical!  

Then I realized what was going on.  I've experienced this before.  You see...  she's in love with the Jesus in me!  She likes being around me because her Spirit senses God is near.   God is feeding her through my ministry and she's not even aware of it.  For that matter,  I wasn't aware of it, myself, at first.   Not only that...  the Spirit of God in me loves the fact that she is responding so wonderfully to the ministry of God's Word.

My Spirit and her Spirit  seem to be having a party over all this!  Isn't that the most wonderful thing?  I know her son thinks so!  And so do I.  God is so Good!

In RED shoes, 
Gail

Day 355

I have been so looking forward to this 355th Day of  The Red Shoe Project.  Bonnie and I both sported our RED shoes as we headed out with the "Angels of Hope" to deliver huge Christmas shopping bags filled with all sorts of practical items, gifts and goodies to women who might otherwise go without this holiday season.

Two months ago we announced at The Bonfire that we wanted to partner with Tammy Young's Heart to Heart women's group in putting together bags stuffed and overflowing with all sorts of Christmas goodies for women in need.  Tammy's church - Church of Hope - has a ministry that goes into the inner city and teaches children all about Jesus.

Every Christmas they show up at a couple different locations with shoeboxes filled with all sorts of Christmas fun for the kids.  Last year,  Heart to Heart  decided to piggy back on that event and include gift totes for all the moms.

Moms are awesome!  Have you ever noticed that they always put their kids first?  They will sacrifice at great length to give to their children -- even if it means that they, personally, will go without.  Why is that?

Did God inject that special quality

into Eve's DNA when he created woman?  

Bonnie and I showed up at Hope Church bright and early.  What it treat it was to bring Christmas joy to the inner city of our community.  We prayed, packed the vans with tote bags, headed to the local park, and greeted the women as they came out for the morning program with their children.  The kids' program was at one end of the park, while the ministry to moms was at the other end.

We started off promptly with light refreshments and Christmas carols. Following that, a dear sister shared her testimony and a brief Christmas message.  After a group prayer for salvation, the  team ministered one-on-one  to all the women wanting prayer.  Finally -- when the children received their boxes -- we passed out the tote bags to the moms.

My favorite part of the day was when we prayed for people individually.  I could have done that all afternoon.  God's Spirit was faithfully present to touch people's hearts and lives.

At one point, I looked out into the crowd and asked if anyone else needed prayer.  I was surprised that there wasn't a response because, inside me,  the Holy Spirit was jumping up and down.  I walked throughout the people making eye contact with every woman.

*           *          *

"Is there anyone here whose kids are struggling with drugs?"

  I shouted for all to hear.  

"I say that because I was once in that exact same place and 

I've seen the power of God break the spirit of addiction

 in my own son's life!  

I'd like to pray with you personally.  Please come and see me."  

*          *          *

Nothing.    No one.  

How could that be? 

It didn't make sense -- not when the Holy Spirit was prompting me so urgently to say those things.

Suddenly one of the gals who was part of the ministry team, came over to me and pulled me aside.  I remember thinking to myself... "Oh no, she's going to reprimand me.  Perhaps I shouldn't have made that announcement.  Maybe she thought it was offensive to people."  

Her first words to me were, "What did you just say to those people?"  Yikes!  I'm in trouble.  What could I say?   I repeated what I said word for word.  Then she did what I never expected.  She put her hands on my shoulders, pulled me towards her and looked right in my eyes.  "I'm one of those people!  I need your prayers!"  With that, the Holy Spirit fell.  I began to sob as I prayed from the depths of my soul for her daughter who was in desperate need of deliverance.  I don't know what everybody else was doing in that moment, but we were having a meeting with God!

Before I knew it, all the bags had been given out and we were packing up the tables and chairs.  It was already time to go.  Bonnie and I drove off talking to one another about the wonders of God.  We had a glorious time!

Now what I didn't know was that she was part of another surprise that was waiting for me at home.  As she dropped me off at my house, I invited her to come in for a few minutes.  There at the door was a display of wonderfully decorated gifts from my friends at Hope and the Bonfire.  Oh my gosh!  What an unexpected surprise!  All little necessities and niceties wrapped up in bows -- some direct answers to prayer.  The thought that they would do that never crossed my mind.  While I had been  busy about my Father's business, He was working through these ladies to take care of my business.

Awesome!

And of course, amongst it all was a much needed pair of new RED shoes!

THANK YOU dear friends!

Gail