Day 72 of  The Red Shoe Project has found me wearing a band-aid on my little toe while I run around in my sparkly RED shoes.  It seems my Ruby Reds have given me a bit of a blister.  Ouch!  New shoes tend to do that!  They rub against a part of your foot that's not used to continual contact.

So, it's Decision Time...  

Are these shoes worth it?  

If so, I will have to endure the breaking in period.  

Endure means to suffer patiently, tolerate, and put up with.

The Breaking In Period is the time it takes to get comfortable with something new, so that you are moving easily and gracefully with it.  

As my faith is growing with The Red Shoe Project, I have noticed there's a little discomfort involved.  For one, my time schedule has changed.  I'm up late at night writing, which means I sleep later in the morning.  I know that may sound wonderful to some,  but I sometimes feel like half my day is gone before I even get moving. 



Secondly, my financial situation has changed.  I used to know very specifically where the money was coming from and when.  I had put together a system of spending, saving, and bill paying that worked rather nicely.

Thirdly, I've noticed that my appearance has changed.  Daily, I was running around town in upscale, corporate clothing.  I must admit, I had put together quite a fashionable wardrobe.

Lastly, my job is different.  My calendar used to be very structured.  Everything happened on the same day, same time, month after month.  It was predictable!

So...  Is it worth it?  Is my new life worth this discomfort?  
Okay... I can hear some of you shouting at me, "Are you crazy? What's your problem?"  LOL.

There are many people who would die to sleep late.  Yeh!  Most days, I don't even use an alarm clock! How nice is that?  I'm slowly adapting to a new sleep pattern so that I get enough sleep, and re-working my schedule so that I can make the most of it.

Secondly, I've had a huge financial breakthrough!  Finally, I am living by faith, and it's working.  Yes... it's a life of daily manna, but that's ok... it's exciting to see God working in this way!  In fact, I'm rather fascinated by the whole process!

Thirdly, let me consider my wardrobe.  I absolutely LOVE the RED shoes!  I'm not sure I'll ever wear another color shoe again -- Not to mention that they cause me to catch what Christ is doing each day. I don't want to change that... ever!  The clothing end is crazy.  I haven't quite figured out what my new style will be.  LOL. Generally speaking... my new work allows me to be much more casual.

Most of the people I work with 

are looking for what's in me, 

not what's on me.  

They are checking out my words and actions, not my fashion style. A more comfortable look on me makes them feel more comfortable with me.  As a spiritual writer, speaker and coach... they know that I can relate to them.  They know that I'm like them.  I haven't presented to them a package of perfection that we often do in business.  My job is about being authentic and relevant. And what's more real than jeans, a shirt and a smile?

Finally, my calendar is loosely structured and rarely predictable. (Is predictable another word for boring?) These days it all about "the Adventure."  Yahoo!!!  I never know what God is going to do... but He's always doing something.  And as I learn to flow with Him, He invites me, more and more, to partner with Him in His work.  I'm loving that I continually get a front row seat to watch Him do the miraculous... not just in my life but in the lives of others.  What's better than that?

Why is it that changing our routine is so difficult?

That's what this is really all about.  My routine is changing.  Someone asked me yesterday if I liked what I was doing these days.  I almost jumped out of my seat with enthusiasm.  I'm writing, creating, teaching, facilitating, coaching, praying, believing, growing and loving every minute of it!  I am having the time of my life!

I'm also realizing that as CHANGE is taking place, I've got to shed the old ways and embrace the new.

I know that holding on to the old, 

only delays the wonders of what's in front of me.

I'm a work in progress.  But as I let go, I'm breathing in deeply, and  learning to go with the flow.  There are no complaints here as I find myself , right smack in the center of what I love to do, with awesome people, under the direct mentorship of the Holy Spirit.

So... Is it worth it?  Absolutely!
It's just time to develop a new routine:  The RED Shoe Routine.
A routine where I let go of how I've always done it and let my partner show me how it's done.

It starts everyday by putting on RED shoes!

Gail

Day 71

Day 71 of The Red Shoe Project found me all over town today for a variety of classes, meetings and appointments.  Someone commented about the RED shoes I was wearing every place I went. It's exciting to see people taking interest in what God is doing!

Early this morning, I started my day over at Living Word Christian Bookstore, where I facilitated a Women's Bible study that focused on the topic of "Waiting on God."

What are we waiting for?

An Answer to Prayer.   

A Word from God.   

A Simple Touch.   

A Call to Action.  

A Powerful Revelation.   

A Life-changing Vision.

Healing.    Deliverance.   Guidance.    

Direction.     Provision.    His Presence.

With that said,
it is a Good thing to be found....

Hungry for God.  

Crying out to Him.  

Presenting Him with Praise. 

Desperately Seeking His Face.

Eagerly Awaiting His Presence. 

Wanting More of All He has to Offer!  

 Needing to Know Him in a Greater Way!

Waiting on God means...

Staying put for now. 

 Not losing focus.  

Sticking around for God.  

Not moving ahead without Him.   

Killing time until He arrives.

Holding out for Him.   

Lingering a little longer.   

Delaying another day. 

 Not being in a rush to leave.

We do this...
Patiently...   
Without Complaining.  
Trusting,  
Believing,  
Expecting 
and Anticipating.

"I waited patiently for the Lord

He turned to me and heard my cry."

Psalm 40:1

Don't be surprised if you find yourself  crying out... wailing... groaning... shouting in desperation...

"Abba!  Father!   Daddy!  --  Help me!"

Psalm 34:4 says...

 "I sought the Lord.

 He heard me, and

   delivered me from my fears."

In closing, 

Psalm 130:5 encourages us to 

Stand on the Promises of God!

"I wait for the Lord.

My soul waits and 

in His Word I put my hope."

I don't know about you, but
I'm staying in RED shoes, 

Gail

Day 70

It's Day 70 of The Red Shoe Project, and as I sit back in my Red Shoes, I want to thank all of you who participated in the Mystery Parable.  (See Day 64.)  Here are some key facts that will unlock the mystery of that story.

The older, wealthy, wise mentor represents God.  This Divine Mentor wants nothing more than to pour into the younger woman's life that she might succeed. With that in mind, she states that she will provide the resources needed for them to meet, so that she can train her personally.

Meanwhile, the younger woman is having trust issues with God.  She hears the woman say she'll provide, but doesn't understand how that all comes together. Operating in fear, she focusses her energy and attention on providing the money for the meeting herself. 

As long as she insists on paying, the mentor will let her.  The mentor knows that the woman must learn how to trust her before they can move on to anything else.

So, you know that the younger woman is me... right?  I've been struggling with this "God will provide" thing for a while now.  Not all of it... just part of it.  I'm not even sure what part of it.  I just know that something isn't quite working.  So I made it a matter of desperate prayer.

"God! What am I missing?

Why am I not getting this?

Help me, please!"

Ok... so it's not like I'm a novice at all this.  I know that God provides.  I know that His name is Jehovah Jireh, My Provider.  But what I know in my mind, is not manifesting in my life.  What's with that?  I need a BREAKTHROUGH! and that's what I began praying for.

A Breakthrough is  a sudden dramatic and 

important discovery or development 

that results in a significant and dramatic 

overcoming of a perceived obstacle 

allowing completion of a project.

Today... Day 70 of The Red Shoe Project, I had a major breakthrough in this area, and yes, I was wearing my RED shoes.  Last week, a good friend and spiritual mentor had passed along a set of teaching CDs she wanted me to listen to.  She called me this morning and asked if I had listened to the first CD yet.  She stressed that God had specifically told her to tell me that I needed to listen to that CD now... like today, because it had answers for me.  Ok... I picked it up and popped it into my car CD player as I drove to St. Pete.

All I can say is that I left Sarasota with one mindset, and arrived in St. Pete with another.  As I pulled into the parking lot of where I was going, the message came to an end.  I shut off the car and decided to pray before getting out.  A transformation took place.  I will never be the same.  I know that you may be wondering... What was it?  And when I can verbalize in a way that makes sense, I will share it. But for now, know this:

God hears those desperate prayers. 

When it seems like He's not there,

He's usually working on our behalf.

The Secret is... 

• pressing in, 
• holding on,
• waiting with anticipation,
• wanting more, 
• determination and tenacity,
• not giving up on God.

As I take off my RED shoes, I think "What a day!"

Thank you for the breakthrough, Lord.

Gail

Day 69

It's Day 69 of The Red Shoe Project.  I should have had on RED running shoes today, because I couldn't get to church fast enough.  My heart is so hungry for God!   Do you remember in Oliver Twist when the orphan said, "Please sir, I want some more!" That's how I feel these days with God.

There's a special speaker's series going on at my friend Carolyn's church, so I've been attending my own church service on Saturdays and scooting over to hers on Sundays.  There's just such an awesome atmosphere of worship and anticipation there.  It starts at 10:30.... we got out at 1:30, 2:00.  This is a "no rush" kind of church. The people worship and wait for God, and once He shows up, they are in no rush to leave.  That may not be everyone's "cup of tea," but I like it!  There's a feast of Spiritual food for whoever wants more!

Amy Lancaster was this morning's special speaker.  She and her family live and minister in the downtown ghetto of Jackson, MS.  What a powerful testimony of what God is doing there. God bless her for answering the call of God on her life!

Afterwards, I had a lovely lunch with my friend, Carolyn and her husband, Jim.  We talked about the incredible courage this woman has.  She's white.  She lives in the middle of the ghetto.  People are constantly threatening her life. Yet, she gets up every morning, walks down the street, smiles and blesses the people!  It's like God has given her a Supernatural Courage, a Supernatural Joy,  a Supernatural Love for the people in that community and a Supernatural Shield of Protection all around her.  Not to mention that they are responding quite favorably to her.  They figure she's either totally crazy, or God's totally with her.

I'm intrigued by that whole scenario.  First of all, God didn't call someone who would "fit in" but instead called someone who would "stick out!" And second, God didn't call someone who was physically big, strong and able to rough it out, but instead called a little bit of a woman who was merely "sold out" for Christ!  In the end, that's how He gets the glory!

Supernatural  refers to  something that is above and beyond our human ability.  It's SUPER-natural.  That means it's extraordinarily great, over and above ordinary greatness.  

It's the amazing by-product of a Divine Partnership.  God working incredible, impossibilities through man, or in this case, woman.  Just how does God do that?  When the Holy Spirit dwells in you, and you yield to that partnership, anything is possible!  I know it sounds so simple and easy.  And I guess it is, but like all things involving human beings, we tend to complicate things... make it so much more difficult and complex than it actually is.

There's an old saying...

God doesn't call the qualified.  

He qualifies the called.

That means He doesn't call you because you have what it takes to get the job done. Instead, He calls you knowing that you'll never accomplish it on your own, and then deposits His Divine Provision in you so that you have what is needed to succeed.

Take note:   He doesn't really need what I think I have to offer.  He's God, remember?  He already has everything!  Everything except an empty vessel who is willing to let God move through his/her life.  The emptier I am, the better. 

With that in mind, any one of us can be used by God. 

RED shoes not required!

Gail