Day 179

Sunny and beautiful!  That's the forecast for this 179th Day of  The Red Shoe Project!  Before slipping on my RED sneakers to boldfully hit the Prayer Walk Trail, I noticed that someone had brought in a few pieces of mail that I hadn't seen yet.  One was from my lawyer.  I opened it up and read the document.


I hate legal documents!  They are worded so carefully... so why is it so difficult to understand what they are actually saying?  LOL.  I will have to call my legal advisor.  He'll answer all my questions and bring me up to speed on things.  I set the letter aside and headed out the door for my prayer walk.

Focussing my attention on the path before me,  I took ten steps and POW!
It hit me:  The Voice of God  -  so clear  -  so loud  -  so to the point.

 "Gail... I don't want you 
to worry about that letter!"  

Wow!  Was it because it was so early in the morning that the other voices in my head weren't awake yet to compete for the loud speaker of my mind?  Seriously, God's voice was so clear, I almost thought it was audible.

He continued...

"Don't waste your time or 
energy thinking about it!

Instead,  fill you mind with 
other things - good things!"

* * *

"...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things.  
Philippians 4:8


* * *

Okay... the signal was clear.  There's no doubt in my mind, whatsoever, that God was speaking to me.  

Writing about it now,  I just want to rejoice!  But how did I get a perfect fix on God's station with absolutely no static?  Have I done something that has given me better reception?  

Do I now have a God-connection with Verizon FIOS ?  

I took off on my walk joyfully bewildered.  "Okay!" I said in return.  "I won't give it a second thought!"  Boldfully,  I laid out my prayers before God, chatting in between requests about my heart's desires.  Along the path I noticed bundles of purple flowers hanging from trees, like grapes from a vine.   "Only in Florida!" I thought.  Next, a butterfly fluttered past.  The sky was blue.  There was a cool breeze.  What a day!  I had definitely gotten started on the right foot!  

About a mile and a half into the walk, "the letter" popped into my mind.  

"Oh no... I'm not going there!"  

I cried out.

Like a powerpoint presentation, I immediately moved to the next slide filled with the names of people who need prayer.  Per God's request, I have removed  "the letter"  slide that wants to flash on the screen of my mind.  That's my way of taking every thought captive. 

"We demolish arguments and every pretension (claim) 

that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, 

and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

2 Corinthians 10:5

I moved along quickly in my RED sneakers, not missing a step.  Before long, I was back home.  What a profitable prayer walk!  I was really focussed this morning and managed to lift quite a few people up to God in prayer.  I smiled -- there was Pauly, waiting at the window, ready to go for his walk.  I popped on his leash and around the block we went. Again, God spoke.  

"Gail... I don't want you 

to worry about that letter!" 

I was so taken back by how clearly God was speaking to me that I almost missed what it was He was saying.  "Okay Lord!  I won't." 

Fifteen or twenty minutes later, Pauly and I had done our loop around the neighborhood and were back at the house.  Just then, the strangest thing happened.  As we walked into the alcove to go in the front door.  Pauly freaked out.  Something was in there.  I pulled back on his leash and moved away to give the animal a way out.  It was a bird.  It flew up onto the roof where I could get a good look at it.  I was amazed at how quiet and still it sat there looking down at me.  Really?  Pauly is a big dog.  You'd think that bird would have flown off in a hurry.  Come to think of it...  rarely have I seen any kind of bird in my front yard...  certainly never in the alcove.  I wondered...  

"What kind of bird are you?"  

I looked closer and gasped in disbelief.   

"Oh my gosh... Are you a dove?"  

I stated out loud, squinting my eyes to focus. 

Pauly rustled, eager to get indoors.  When I looked back, the bird was gone.  I rushed in the house, headed to my computer and googled:  "Doves."  There it was on the screen:  an exact picture of the bird on my roof...

a dove...  a mourning dove.  

Funny that I've never noticed that kind of bird around here before.  Just then, God spoke one more time.  

"Okay... just so there's no question 

in your mind that it's Me speaking... 

I don't want you to worry about that letter!  

What better sign could I give to you than a dove?"

I know that the dove is symbolic of The Holy Spirit.  There is no better sign.  So I definitely won't be worrying about that letter.  What letter was that?  I do believe that it has slipped my mind already!

Gail

Day 178

Day 178 of The Red Shoe Project found me crawling out of bed at noon -  no shoes... just my painted RED toe nails!   All my traveling finally caught up with me.  I was physically exhausted and not feeling so well, so I cancelled all my appointments and made today an official day of rest -- even if it is the middle of the week!  Later in the early evening,  I felt strong enough to get back into my routine of Prayer Walking.


As I took on the challenge and walked out the three mile course, God was faithful to fill my mind with person after person.  I prayed for each one as they were brought to mind.  For many my prayer was this...

• That they would sense God's presence in a powerful way.
• That they would hear God's voice, and respond accordingly.
• That somehow God would draw them in deeper, closer to Him.
• That He would be ever so real in their life.
• That they would make room for a greater relationship with Him.
• That He would work out His perfect will in them.

At one point, God brought a specific young man to mind who is currently in rehab.  His name is Charlie.  I prayed my heart out before God for his divine deliverance.  

Oh that God might bring a strong Christian 

into this young person's life with the 

gospel message of salvation and deliverance!  

Then God asked me to petition my son, Joe,  to partner with me in this prayerful endeavor.  I called my son in Dallas and asked if he would agree with me in prayer for this young man's release from the bondage of drug addiction.  He responded affirmatively and also offered to write to the young man as well.  Perhaps God will use my son's testimony to reach Charlie.  I know that whatever transpires between the two of them will be God induced  -- because God has his eye on Charlie for a purpose.  He has a plan for this young man's life.  Will you take a moment and lift Charlie's name before God's throne today?  I would appreciate your partnership in this matter. 

God has sensitized my heart for those who are entangled in drug addiction.  A sensitivity --  not to judge them -- but to intercede on their behalf.  With that, God has also given me a holy boldness to claim them for Christ.  The evil one of this world is determined to rob people of their lives... and one of the ways he does that best is with drugs.  I don't know what they call it nowadays, but in the days of my own youth they referred to partying as "getting wasted!"  How appropriate a term.  Why oh why does the drug user not see that he or she is "wasting" their life away with drug use?  It's not a joke.  If it is...  it's a bad joke and the joke is on them.   The enemy has blinded them and deceived them into thinking it's all a big party!  It's not because they are kids and don't know any better...  because it's not just kids, and regardless, they do know better.   It's because the devil is a liar and a deceiver.  He's known to many as the  "the father of lies" and he's come to "kill, steal and destroy"  (John 10:10)  your life --  my life -- the lives of those we love -- and the lives of those all around us.  The Word of God says...

"The devil was a murderer from the beginning, 

not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him.  

When he lies, he speaks his native language, 

for he is a liar and the father of lies." 

John 8:44

Drug addiction is his territory.  It's his stomping ground.  He knows all the ins and outs.  And he's continually recruiting.  But I've been recruited myself...  

Recruited to be a "Soul Snatcher"  for God!  

To go to the edge of Hell and proclaim freedom 

over people's lives,  in the Name of Jesus, 

and to carry them back to the arms of Father God,

the One who loves them with a never-ending love, 

so much so that He sent His Son,

Jesus, to die for their freedom.  

"If  the Son sets you free you will be free indeed!"

John 8:36

I do believe I have been enlisted in God's Army to one day be a full-fledged,  Soul Snatcher.  Currently, I am  in training... a Deliverance Boot Camp of sorts.  I know this... the uniform includes RED boots!  Boots that are covered in the Blood of Christ. 

Gail

Day 177

It's Day 177 of The Red Shoe Project and I'm back in Sarasota, sporting my Ruby Reds and merging gently back into the daily routine.  At 8:30 a.m  I could be found walking Pauly around the block.

Immediately after that, I headed for "The Bonfire,"  our weekly Women's Bible Study.  Today was our last day meeting at the bookstore.  We have outgrown that venue.  The room we meet in fits sixteen.  Today we topped it off with twenty.
Significant Growth -- that is a good problem to have!

This morning of blessing started long before 10 a.m..  Kami arrives at 9 to pray specifically for God to move amongst us in our time together.  I arrived just before 10 and it seemed that a few other women had joined her.  With that in mind, what happened next didn't surprise me.


Before everyone had even arrived and taken a seat, one of the women jumped up and stated that her hands were on fire and that God wanted to heal people.  One by one, the women stood in front of her for prayer.  Every so often, the power of God would hit someone and down they went on the floor.


It was only a matter of minutes before several people started claiming they were healed.  I, myself, stepped forward.  Why not?  My neck was stiff and sore from sleeping in that recliner several nights in a row.  I felt a soothing warmth penetrate into my neck as she laid hands on me to pray.  Within a minute or two, she asked me to move my neck around... The pain was gone!   What's better than that?

Nancy,  Angie and myself all shared some great testimonies, with the ladies, of what God had done at the conference.  Bonnie brought it all together with a good word from God.  Another great meeting!

Afterwards, we headed over to Restoration Church to confirm our new location.  This local church, just around the corner from where we've been meeting, has agreed to let us use one of their rooms.  This venue will  hold at least fifty, so there's plenty of room for growth.  How exciting!  The Spirit of God is undoubtedly drawing people to our study.  I can't wait to see what happens next.

When I was a little girl -- maybe eight years old or so -- I played in a big field just down the street from my house.  It wasn't a park, with nicely manicured greens.  It was a field of wild grass, rocks and wetland.  It wasn't unusual during the hot summer days, for a fire to start there.  The firemen would come out in big RED fire trucks with blasting sirens, to extinguish the flames with their hoses.  


One day, while playing outside, I saw a fire.  No one was around, so I ran to the telephone pole where the fire alarm hung.  As a youngster, I was always taught never to pull the fire alarm unless there was a true emergency.  I looked back at the grassy area, the fire was all the way at the other end of the field and looked about four feet high.  I looked back at the big RED emergency box on the pole with it's giant letters  F - I - R - E.  What should I do?  The fire was burning.  I sensed the importance of time.  My hands were sweating as I stood on my tiptoes, pulled down the little white door, and pulled the alarm.  I took a deep breath of relief.  I did it!  Then I looked back at the field, only to find that the fire had gone out.  I couldn't believe it.  Where did the fire go?  I was so afraid of getting into trouble,  I ran home before the fire trucks arrived and never told a soul.


Today, it's a different story.  I'm sounding the alarm in hope that many will come out to check out the fire of God.  I'm mindful that the fire starts in me.  But it's also in the women of God around me.  They, too,  are ablaze for Jesus!   Remember that old Sunday school song?

"This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine!
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine!
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine!
Let it shine.  Let it shine.  Let it shine."

"Don't let nobody blow it out!  I'm gonna let it shine!
Don't let nobody blow it out!  I'm gonna let it shine!
Don't let nobody blow it out!  I'm gonna let it shine!
Let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine."


As we go forth into this next phase of ministry with  "The Bonfire,"  I am praying that God will draw in more and more women.  Oh that people would find Christ --  be healed --  set free -- and set on fire for God!  We won't be calling on the Fire Department to put out the blaze.  No!  No!  We will be fanning the flame!  And I will be there, in my RED shoes, believing God to do a mighty work!

Don't think that the thought hasn't crossed my mind...
"What if the fire goes out?  
What if the group doesn't continue to grow?  
What if I sound the alarm and people come out to see the fire 
and nothing is there?"   


I feel like I'm eight all over again.

There I am facing the big RED firebox, 

contemplating whether or not to pull the alarm.  

Well,  I'm not that little girl any more.  I'm a seasoned professional in Christ.  I'm no longer afraid.  I'm sounding the alarm and I'm waiting to see who comes out.  I'm going to be part of this project that lights the hearts of others with the love of Jesus. 

And I'm going to do it in RED shoes!
You are welcome to join me.

Gail

Day 176

It's Day 176 of  The Red Shoe Project and I'm wearing my RED shoes and comfortable clothing.  The time has come to go home.  

Who would have imagined that God would do so much, in a mere five days, right here, in Rome, Georgia?   Many of the rich experiences I've had here, I've written to you about, but there was so much more.  After all, there were at least ten people staying at Mama Fire's and many more who stayed elsewhere and attended the conference. They all take with them their own treasured memories.

There was Lesha, who played piano;  Kelly with the amazing smile and her wonderful little girl, Hope;    Edna, who preached a great word, (she's Mama's sister);  my new friends Marilyn and Carol, who know more old choruses than I do;  there was Jean, sweet Jean,  and the gals from Ohio who stayed with Kathy, (a powerhouse of prayer, who's also Mama Fire's daughter);  my FL/GA friends...  Annie and Peg;  And us Florida gals... Angie, Nancy, Bonnie and myself.  Yesterday, Angie  flew home.  Today, Bonnie, Nancy and I are driving.  We had a time of prayer, this morning, with Mama and Leslie and headed out.  I jumped in the SUV and positioned myself in the front passenger seat, Nancy hopped in the back, and Bonnie started her up -- Off we went!

I thought about all the amazing women that I was with this week. One, in particular, I got to know a little more than the others.  I can't help but think about how Marilyn and I connected.  We shared a room together.  She slept on an air mattress and I slept on the recliner.  You get to know someone when you share a room.  She played the guitar and led us in choruses well into the night.  We had a lot of laughs together.  She likes to laugh and I think that she may have as many stories as I do.  After everyone else went to sleep, Marilyn and I stayed up and chatted even longer.  A new friendship has begun!

I can't leave Georgia without giving THANKS TO GOD for the Woman of God who really made this all happen.  She'd point out all the wonderful ladies involved who cooked, prayed, preached, worshipped, ministered, invited, housed, transported, advertised and funded this whole project.  And they are to be commended.   But at the heart of it all is our beloved,  "Mama Fire"...  a woman sold out to God - to do His work - to lead souls to Christ - to preach His Word - to lay hands on people and pray for their salvation,  baptism,  healing,  and deliverance.  She's there to be an example, and to direct and guide women, like us, whom God has given the opportunity to sit at her feet.



"The Spirit of the Sovereign 
 LORD is on me, because 
 the LORD has anointed me
 to proclaim good news 
 to the poor.
 He has sent me to 
 bind up the brokenhearted, 
 to proclaim freedom for the 
 captives and release from 
 darkness for the prisoners, 
 to proclaim the year of the 
 LORD's favor and the day
 of vengeance of our God..."
 Isaiah 61:1

THANK YOU Mama Fire 

for your generosity and love!

We made it back to Sarasota in about ten hours.  We stopped many times for gas, snacks, and restroom breaks. We weren't gone half an hour and we pulled into the first Starbucks we saw for a Chai Tea Latte. (That was my idea!)  LOL.   We finished reading our book on "Deliverance."   We had some good ministry discussion.  We testified back and forth of all the things the Lord had done.  We laughed. And we cried.

We popped on some victory music and hooted and hollered, joyfully, unto the Lord!  Then, right as we were pulling into Sarasota, we saw a rainbow.

It was a GREAT road trip in RED shoes!

Gail