Day 29

It's Day 29 of The Red Shoe Project  and although I am sporting RED SHOES, I am focusing, (during these challenging days), on staying STRONG in the FAITH!  With that in mind, I have been pondering, throughout the day, the old-time adage of:

You are what you eat!

Eat a well balanced, healthy diet and your body will be healthy and strong.  Eat a diet comprised of all junk food and your body will, inevitably, be sickly and weak.  When you're strong, in body, you have no problem fighting off sickness.  But when you're sickly and weak... you're so much more susceptible to illness and disease. Right?

So what if I apply this same concept to Spiritual health? How can I be spiritually strong as opposed to a spiritual marshmallow that deflates under the least bit of spiritual warfare?

Hey... let's face it, challenges and difficulties will always come our way.  Life is made up of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.  Being a Christian doesn't mean a perfect, flawless, life without difficulty. In fact, The Bible teaches quite the opposite. It states,

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous..."

Psalm 34:19

If that's the case... 

How do I stay strong, stand firm, and hold on in trying times?

I'm reminded of the illustration of:

 The Spiritual Man vs. The Flesh Man.  

The Spiritual Man is the strong godly part of me.    

The Flesh Man is the worldly side of me.

The nutritious diet plan of The Spiritual Man is comprised of:

The Word of God

Worship & Praise

Fellowship with Other Believers - Iron Sharpening Iron.

Sharing with others what God has done in your life!

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Self-Control

The junk food buffet of The Flesh Man consists of:

Questionable Reading, TV, Movies & Music 

Idolatry

Unhealthy Relationships

Unprofitable Conversations

Negativity, Anger, Vulgarity, Violence, Fear, Hatred, Gluttony

If you're wondering what falls into this category, just ask yourself, 

"Would I do this with Jesus, by my side?"

In times of struggle... Who's going to win the fight? 

   

That's easy....

The one you feed is the one who wins!

The one you starve is the one who loses.

As I lace up my RED running shoes for the challenges that lie ahead, I am feasting on the meal plan of Champions!  

Gail

Day 28

We're coming down to the last few days of the First Month of  The Red Shoe Project.  I phrase it this way for a reason.  Deadlines occur at the end of the month. Bills are due at the end of the month. Reviews are completed at the end of the month. Decisions to continue or stop projects are made at the end of the month.

This is where the rubber meets the road! Are these RED SHOES really magical?  Are my RUBY REDS as powerful as they claim to be? In other words... Will God come through on His promises? Does The Lord really provide for His people?  Can He and will He provide for me? When I look back at January in review, will God have accomplished all the things He's told me He would? Is there enough evidence to show that God is in the center of our project and encouraging us to go deeper?

Have you ever asked those kinds of questions?

Isn't that part of what The Red Shoe Project is all about?

Wrestling with God about these things until you get an answer?

A sure answer. A complete answer. A working answer.

An answer that satisfies!

I must admit, I BELIEVE that the answer to all of these questions is YES!  But we can't start the "review" process until the end of the month! Well, actually... we can't even begin it until the first of next month.  

So often, God stops to take a breath, and we jump in, right before the grande finale, put a stop to everything and proclaim a fatal ending!  We give into the spiritual warfare.  We listen to the discouraging voices in our head. We start making excuses for God, without even giving Him a chance to finish. And instead... we look at how WE, ourselves, might provide the solution... before it's "too late!" 

(Gee... As I write this all down, and read it aloud, it sounds so pathetic.  Ouch!!!)

Let me share with you something God's been speaking to me.  As I was running out the door, one morning, in my RED SHOES, (of course),  I noticed my dog, Pauly, curled up by my desk. He was totally relaxed and ready for a long, restful morning...snoozing.  I closed the door behind me and God said,

 "Do you think Pauly is thinking...

 "I wonder what time she'll be back?"  

"Did she leave me water?

"Will she remember to take me out for my walk later?"

"I hope she doesn't forget to feed me my dinner!"

"Where will I be sleeping tonight?"

Of course not...  He just rests in knowing he's provided for."

Hmmmm... So why is it that I don't rest in knowing that I'm provided for?   My bulldog gets it... but I don't?

Then God showed me the other side of the coin.  I thought about how seriously I take my responsibility as a pet owner.  I always come home to take care of my dog.  Even if it's not convenient.  If I have to go out of town, I make arrangements for his care with a reliable person.  I always make sure he has plenty of clean water. And I would never forget to take him out... 2 times a day.  Not to mention the fact that I try to stick to a regular schedule.  And feed him dinner? Always! Without fail. And when the lights go out at night, he's always "snug as a bug" in our warm, comfy home... usually at the foot of my bed. He doesn't have to worry about a thing!

So why then do we worry?  Why do we doubt Our Father?  

Why do we waiver in our faith?

I've noticed that many times, in the past, I simply have not allowed God to show himself faithful.  I've thrown in the towel too soon.  I haven't even allowed Him the time He's requested.  This time, I'm determined to let Him go the distance.  I'm stretching my Faith, further than it's ever gone before, to give God a fair shot at proving Himself to me.

People who have done this before me have all reported that "God is FAITHFUL!"

They say "God is always RIGHT ON TIME." 

And many remark... "IT'S OFTEN NOT UNTIL THE VERY LAST HOUR... BUT HE ALWAYS DELIVERS ON HIS PROMISES!"

So I'm going into these last three days with Bold, Exuberant Enthusiasm & Excitement!  This is where the Hero shows up!  Where it all comes together! Where the Impossible becomes Possible! Where Miracles take place!

I can't stand it!  I'm not waiting any longer...  for my applause that is.  I'm getting excited, even now.  I'm clapping!  I'm jumping!  I'm waving my arms in the air!  I can feel my spirit shouting, "Yahoooo!  Glory!  Glory to God!  Thank You Jesus!  He did it!  He did it!  Glorrrrrrrry!!! 

Hey.... I might just have to kick off these RED SHOES and do a little victory dance!

Believe with me!

Gail

Today is Day 27 of  The Red Shoe Project.  I sported my RUBY RED high heels and headed out for church. It was a FULL day... both in activity, and Spirit!

 I loved being in church today!  I walked in the door and couldn't wait to find someone to share a smile with! A hug here.  A hug there. A compliment.  A kind word.  

Next thing I knew,  my RED shoes were almost running into the church auditorium to take in as much of the music and worship as possible. It was one of those mornings when no "warm up" was needed.  I dropped my purse on my chair, lifted my hands into the air, shut my eyes and breathed in the glory!  I couldn't wait to whisper wonderful words of love to my Lord and Savior between songs.

The preaching was awesome.  I just sat back and bathed in the Word. The air around me was light. It was as if the Peace of God was just floating all around me.

I had a short meeting after each service... that's right I stayed for all 3 services, to give a preview of a Seekers and New Believers class that I'll be facilitating starting this week.  I felt like I was glowing on the inside as I shared the Goodness of God.  I mean really, what's better than heading up a discussion group for people who are at a place of saying, "God... If you're real, show yourself to me!"  Because  we know that when people say that... God shows up!

Ahhh... the wonder and excitement of being around seekers and new believers!  One of my favorite places in the world to be!!! Not to mention how awestruck I was as  my co-facilitator wept under the anointing of God as he shared of the transforming power of Jesus.

Yeah... It was a GOOD day!

And you know how it all started?

I met up with my girlfriend last night for a chat at Starbucks.  We talked for hours of the Goodness of God... of all that He is doing in our lives.  We broke open the Scriptures and shared Words of Glory with one another.  We laughed.  We cried.  We giggled. We went deeper into the Things of God.

Truly, We were just 2 little girls... 3 years old maybe? 

"Drinking at the Springs of Living Water"

Until we were full.

Full and a little silly.

"Ladies... we're closing in 15 minutes!" they announced as they started mopping the floor.  

We packed it up.  She dropped me at my car, and we drove off in separate directions.  I hated to see her go.  What a blessing... to have a friend like that!  A friend that POURS into your life.  WOW! Thank you Jesus!  May there be many more midnight chats that cause me to wake up the next day FILLED and ready to face the world in RED SHOES!

"A happy heart makes the face cheerful"

Proverbs 15:13a

I'll take that anytime!

Gail

We're 26 days into  The Red Shoe Project.  I've been in RED shoes all day, basking in God's Presence, and a picture keeps coming to my mind.  It's a memory I have from several years ago, in which I was visiting with some friends. There was a gentleman there with a young daughter who was striving to get his attention. To amuse her,  he told her that he would play hide and seek with her, and that it was her turn to hide.  He began counting.  The little girl proceeded to run but a few feet away, closed her eyes tightly, then covered her eyes with her hands, and shouted out..."O.K.  I'm hiding!" It was so funny.  The little three year old assumed that since she couldn't see any of us, that we couldn't see her either.  She was shut away, well hidden, in her own little world.

The other night I shouted out to many of you via Facebook, and asked you to share your thoughts on your SECRET PLACE... where you go when you need to get one-on-one alone time with God.  There was a tremendous response!  Many shared that they had a specific space they went to where there was a comfy chair... in their house, in the living room.  Some said it was in the bedroom.  Others opted for outside on the porch, the lanai,  or in the backyard. One shared that the shower, in the morning, was her place to cleanse, physically and spiritually.  No one bothered her there. It was private and God often spoke to her. Many find that a drive in the car does the trick.

I began thinking about The Characteristics of a Good SECRET PLACE.

It should be:

• a private place, free of distractions.
• a place where you have the liberty to talk freely with God.
• a quiet place where you can hear from God.
• a comfortable place where you'll linger awhile.
• a convenient place that's easy enough to get to.

Privacy is important for a God encounter.  Generally speaking, those one-on-one times are intimate conversations between You and God. They are personal and not meant for other people's ears.

A private space is a place you go to by yourself.  You don't have to worry about being distracted by onlookers. Which also means that you need to shut off electronic devices like cell phones which can disrupt your conversation with The Almighty.

We want to make sure that we have liberty to share our heart with God without worrying about who else might be listening.

And just as important, we want to be able to hear from Him. So, if you're SECRET PLACE is in the car, do shut off the radio, and give Him the opportunity to respond.

Comfort can be an important factor.  We want something that is comfortable enough that we want to go there and stay awhile... but not so comfortable that you find yourself nodding off to sleep.  (Although there was a Christian man,  John Hyde,  nicknamed, "Praying Hyde" who always knelt by his bed.  He would pray for hours at a time, and ultimately wore groves into the floorboards.  I can't imagine that being comfortable, but it was incredibly effective, I'm sure!)

I know that when places are convenient, we tend to visit them more frequently and consistently. We don't really need another excuse for not being able to get to God.

So what about when it's not convenient to get to your SECRET PLACE?  What if you're in a crowded room and it's noisy?  What if there's not a comfortable place to relax, sit down, and seek God?

The need for an unanticipated, emergency meeting with God will arise on occasion. Then what?  That's when you close your eyes and enter into the SECRET PRAYER CLOSET of your mind.  You do what you need to do.  You push away from all the distractions.  And like the little girl, you get into your own little world.  (After all, the privacy, the quietness, the comfort and the convenience... they are for your benefit, not God's.)

Then you simply whisper His Name:  JESUS. And there He is!  Right there.  In the midst of it all, you're meeting with God.  He's never too busy.  He's never unable to meet. And you don't need to be wearing RED shoes!

In His Presence - anytime, anywhere!

Gail