Day 4

When I wake up each morning, I look down and there's my toes sticking out from under the covers.  I smile as I see the bright RUBY RED, sparkly nail polish on my toes.  I've never before had any type of bold color like this from a pedicure, so I am getting used to them.  Not to mention, I live in Florida, where the weather is always warm, so it's not uncommon to be barefoot or in flip flops throughout the entire year.

As silly as it may sound, seeing those RED toes first thing each day have prompted me to stay in bed a little longer in the mornings and talk to God before I do anything else. I love that!  When I'm just waking up, my mind is clear. It hasn't had time yet to be filled up with all the clutter a day can bring.

While my head is still on the  pillow, I gently open my eyes.  Sometimes there's a praise song playing softly in my mind... or a scripture. I try to hang onto that for the entire day. It's usually the exact affirmation I'll need. So I'll quietly sing along or recite it before it's whisked away.

"He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God..."  (Psalm 40:3)

I so enjoy that peaceful time with my God. It's as if He's right there waiting for me to wake up.

Sometimes I whisper quiet secrets to the One I love. Other times, I look for help getting out of bed because I know that challenges await me. LOL.

Often, this is a time when God will speak clearly to me. He knows He has my full attention. When that happens, I will prop up my pillows, put on my glasses, and reach by my bedside for my journal and pen. I don't want to forget what God has taken the time to specifically dictate to me.

So it's only day 4 of the Red Shoe Project, and God has reminded me that...

"His thoughts are not my thoughts,

Neither are my ways His ways."

(Isaiah 55:8)  

So He's begun sharing His perspective on things that I might grasp ahold of His mindset as I follow Him in this Divine Partnership.

I spent much of today meditating on Psalm 25:4

"Show me your ways, O Lord

teach me your paths;

guide me in your truth and teach me,

for you are God my Savior,

and my hope is in you all day long."

I have found scripture easier to memorize when it's in the form of a song.  I found myself closing my eyes throughout the day and singing along with Hillsong:

Truly I yearn to know His ways that I might be a better follower.

Until tomorrow, 

Gail

Day 3

I woke up and headed out early this morning in my new RED ballet flats. As I pulled out of the driveway, I noticed that a heavy fog had moved into my development.  I could actually see it resting on the tops of houses. It was incredible how the upper halves of homes were completely hidden by the fog.
What an eerie feeling!  Just then the Lord spoke so clearly to me...

"Even though fog can make those houses look like they've disappeared, you know that  they're still there...  Right? 
Well, in the same way, when the difficulties of life roll in, and you can't see me, remember that I'm still here.  I'll never leave you."

I'm often comforted with God's promise of ...

"I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Deuteronomy 31:6

And here was the Holy Spirit reminding me of that first thing this morning.  It didn't surprise me that my early appointment with a good friend was a perfect opportunity to share what God had spoken to me. Turned out she was much in need of a reminder of just that.

It never ceases to amaze me how God can speak something so powerful and personal to me, and then speak that same thing to someone else, and it's just as powerful and personal to them, in a completely different way! I love that about God!

God is omniscient. That means He's all-knowing.  His knowledge is not limited like mine is. Not only does he know all sorts of facts about everything around me, (after all, He did create them), He's also knows the details of who I am -- on the inside. 

I've heard the saying, "He knows me better than I know myself."  That's so true! And it's especially obvious when I find myself "out of sorts" and don't know why.  I ask the Lord to reveal to me what's wrong and He does. He's so personal!

The fact that the Holy Spirit lives in me definitely has its advantages. He is with me always, right here, in my heart and in my mind... leading me, guiding me... teaching me... and talking with me.  Truly He is...

"The Friend that sticks closer than a brother."

Proverbs 18:24

Day 2

Today I stepped out sporting my RED patent leather pumps... to walk the dog!  LOL.  I know it sounds crazy, but I just couldn't put on those red flip flops this morning!  I have a blister from them, between my toes, from yesterday. OUCH!  What a sight that must have been to on-lookers. I kept whispering to my 70 lb., english bull dog, Paully, "Now don't go too fast. Gail has high heels on and can't go running with you today!" Do you think he listened?  Fortunately, he was a good dog.  But the long walk in high heels wasn't the best idea. I began thinking that if he decided to dart off quickly in one direction or another, how I could so easily twist an ankle or even worse, break a leg.  Then what?  A big RED cast?  LOL.

Yes... I need to adjust my footwear to fit the occasion.  

With that in mind, my daughter, Grace, insisted on providing the perfect RED ballet flats from Target. I rushed over to Target and to my surprise, the last RED pair available on the shelf were just my size! What a relief!

I began thinking about the word "A D J U S T M E N T S".  You know -- making little changes to better fit the situation.  I couldn't seem to get that word out of my mind, so I whispered up a prayer to God that he would help me see today's Red Shoe Lesson.

Well it wasn't quite what I expected. Later on in the day, I began to think about how many times in life I had "ADJUSTED" my actions, my conversation, my appearance, etc. around the people that I was with, in fear that I might come across as some type of "religious weirdo."  Often I've "toned it down a bit" because I thought this person, or that, just wouldn't understand. I hate to admit it, but sometimes I just didn't say anything because I didn't think people would receive it.

You know what God told me?  He said,
"You don't know the hearts and minds of people... so how can you possibly ADJUST accordingly?"

He's right.  I often don't know who people really are, let alone what they may be struggling with, what's truly in their heart or what they are thinking. I know as well as anyone that one's countenance is not always representative of what's going on inside them. But...

God does know the hearts and minds of men. 

And who am I to "adjust" God?  What did I say yesterday?  He's the Leader and I'm the Follower.  So I'm done with that.  He can adjust Himself if He deems it necessary. My job is to let God move through me authentically... not to erroneously filter out what I think people can't handle.

I'm not saying that we should uncaringly dump the fullness of our faith on people.  But as a Christian, I want people to see God in me. Remember that old saying... "If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" Yes, God will give us wisdom in all situations. But I must admit that I've (with good intentions) often used my own wisdom and clothed myself in Christ in a way that I thought was palatable to others. It's not that I didn't want people to know that I was a Christian. I love the Lord! And people know that. But there have been times that I guess I felt that people wouldn't get it.... that they wouldn't get me... that it would all be a bit overwhelming to them.

The more I thought about that today, however,  the sicker I began to feel. It was that dreadful feeling that perhaps in such times I had been grieving the Holy Spirit.  How many people could I have helped, encouraged, prayed for, but they didn't even recognize that I had that to offer? I found myself repenting to God and promising to allow Him to take control of this part of my life. I'm taking my hands off it!

So I stopped by a little restaurant  to drop off my book to someone I've recently befriended.  I had hoped to give it to her for Christmas, but wasn't able to connect with her in time. I had a quick bite... chatted with her some more... and discovered she was about to take a trip up north. Because it's such a quick read, I thought that my book (The Yellow Brick Road: A Woman's Journey to the Edge and Back)  would be perfect reading material for her trip.  Then... in my mind, I heard the voices. "You don't even know if she's a Christian." "It's too religious for her."  "What will she think?"  "She's not going to read that book!"

Was I being tested already to see if I would hold true to my proclamation?

Of course I was.  I quickly shut down those voices in my mind, and asked the Holy Spirit for help.

He reminded me that...  it isn't so much what is written in the book, but more about His ability to move through my story and specifically touch the lives of those reading it in very personal ways.

That's something only He can do.

It's not so much what we have to offer of ourselves, but what happens when God puts his special touch on our offerings.

 I believe they call that "The Anointing".

Talk again soon!
Gail

Day 1

It's New Year's Day.  For me, that's the start of a New Adventure... another journey down the Yellow Brick Road of Life...  only this time there's a New Purpose:

 To develop a Greater Awareness of the Power and Presence of God, The Holy Spirit, in my everyday life. 

As a Christian, I want to embrace all that God has for me.  I want to, not just know about the Holy Spirit, but I want to walk in and with the Holy Spirit.  I want to be connected.  I want to acknowledge His presence.  I want to communicate in a greater way.  You know... talk with God and hear back from Him.  I have questions that need to be answered, and I am determined to wrestle with God until I "get it!"

So, with all that said,

I'll be wearing RED SHOES... heals, sneakers, flats and flip flops, every day for a year and writing about it.

My hope is that my RED SHOES will be a constant, in my face reminder of my partnership with God. I know that my eyes will continually catch a glimpse of those bright, bold RUBY SLIPPERS of sorts, that are fitted securely on my feet. I'm trusting that will remind me that "GOD IS WITH ME"... right here, right now... every moment of every day.

 Now, if that doesn't change things, I don't know what will!  And I invite you to check in with me each day to see what's happening.

Of course, it's not just about wearing the shoes... that's just to keep my attention and focus.  I'll also be diving into a one year Bible Study on the Holy Spirit as well.  I want details.  Just who is the Holy Spirit, and what can I expect of Him in this divine partnership?  I know the Word of God holds the answers.

And who are the people that have gone before me in this endeavor? I will dig into their diaries and biographies to find out what they have learned.

All in all, I expect a change in my life as I step out in faith.

Today, I have sported some new red flip flops.  I didn't go far... just around the block to walk the dog.
I have already been reminded that "new" shoes require "breaking in".  As beautiful as those red sandals are, I already have a blister. So I have had to resort to bare feet and painted ruby red toe nails for today. LOL!

But that's okay because I go into this adventure, humbly, realizing that it is "new" and I will have to "adjust".  In fact, the first thing God spoke to me today was to put my old mindset aside and embrace the new.  For "His ways are not my ways".  And, after all, although this is a "partnership," He is the senior partner.  He is the Leader and I am the Follower.

With that in mind, I started the day, in prayer, asking that I not be stepping on His toes, trying to lead the way. I'm here to learn from Him... My Maker, My Friend, My Teacher, My Lord.

Gail