Day 278

It's Day 278 of  The Red Shoe Project.   Like many of you, I am waiting on God.  He's working on the minute details of my life.  He's handling my concerns.  He's pulling things together -- setting things in order -- and making ready all that is necessary.  Meanwhile...  Life goes on.  I need to get dressed.  What shall I wear?   RED shoes, of course -- that's a given!

I've been looking through my closet for hours.
I know it's in there  --
The perfect outfit for today! 
No, that's not it!   That's not it either!
Too small.  Too big.
That doesn't fit right.
That one simply wont work.
Yeah... not the right color.  
Too frumpy.   Out of date.  
Wait a minute  --  Ahhhhhhhhhh...

 There it is!  

How did it get stuffed way back there?  (Probably because I haven't worn it in ages.)  Let me get it out of the closet and into the natural light.  Hmmmm.  It's a little crumpled.  No worries!  It's one of those garments that come to life when you put it on.  Wrinkle-free!  And I know it will still fit.

  Yes... It's perfect!  

You have one too!  We all do.  But somehow it ends up forgotten amongst all our stuff,  so we don't wear it.  That's too bad, because it would solve a world of problems.  "What is it?" you ask.

It's the "Garment of PRAISE!"

Just like that old chorus:

"Put on the garment of praise

for the spirit of heaviness.

Lift up your voice to God!

Pray in the spirit 

and with understanding.

Oh, magnify the Lord!"

Sometimes I forget.  I forget that this "Garment of Praise"  will shake off that spirit of heaviness.  You know what I'm talking about.  Some people refer to it as a "funk" of sorts.  "I'm just in a funk!"  they say.   Some see it as a depression - an overwhelming, constant sadness that they can't snap out of.  Some make excuses. "That's just me -- I'm melancholy!"  Some  people refer to it as a heavy heart that won't go away.  Maybe, for you,  it's a feeling of despair and hopelessness -- even though you know CHRIST as your Lord and Savior.  Have you ever wondered, "How can that be?"  Well, the enemy is at work.

Isaiah 61:3  tells me 

that He has given me a 

"Garment of Praise" 

to replace that spirit of despair.  

* All I have to do is put it on!

"Putting it on" - What does that mean?  It means I need to sing -- unto the Lord  -- LOUD --  and from the bottom of my heart -- with everything I've got!  I need to sing with all sincerity,  knowing that God, Himself, is my audience.   I need to sing long enough and loud enough until that "funk"  falls right off me!  

So often, people spend tons of  money...  drinking, drugging, attempting various therapies, salon treatments, exercise plans, diets, vitamins and more...  all in an attempt to  rid themselves of "the heaviness."  Oh!  if they would just try God's way!  (Not to mention that it's free.)  If they'd just  PRAISE HIM!

"Praise the Lord!

Come on and Praise the Lord!

Let all God's people praise the Lord!

Shake off those heavy bands!

Lift up those Holy hands!

Let all God's people praise the Lord!

(Sing it again)."

It really is that easy.  But you have to put forth an effort.  You may have to start off by putting a fake smile on your face.  You tell yourself you're going to smile, by faith, even though you don't "feel"  happy.  Remember, according to Hebrews 11:1   Faith is the substance of things hoped for, even though you haven't seen the physical manifestation of it yet.    

Then, you tell your body, "Stand up!"  Even though you're tired, you lift up you hands in surrender to Him! 

You may have to force out that first song!  That's what's referred to as a "Sacrifice of Praise!"  You don't want to sing, but you do it anyway -- because God's Word tells you to!  

You have to lift your voice and sing out strong.   Did you ever see that movie, Elf?   The little boy says to his father... "Hey, you're not really singing."  The father says, "Yes I am!"   The son retorts, "No you're not!  You're just mouthing the words!"   Same thing.

You might just have to put on your dancing shoes! Or kick off your shoes for that matter.  Whatever works best for you.  Can you believe for a moment that you just might be so happy that you'll have to cut a little rug?  Would that be so bad?

Here's what happens:   As those genuine praises flow forth from your lips -- over and over again -- eventually that oppressive spirit breaks.  You begin to operate in the Goodness of God.  

Suddenly you become cognizant of God's Love for you!   You remember you're saved -- that your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life!  Before you know it,  your smile is real.  You find yourself celebrating Christ, your Redeemer!  Your shouts become exuberant!   The music is more than a song. Your joy is full!  You're overflowing!  That "funk"  has been washed away!  All to the Glory 

of God!

Hallelujah!

Yes,  the "Garment of Praise" is the perfect choice!  For that matter, shouldn't I own one in every color?  LOL.  Shouldn't that be my choice everyday?  With RED shoes, of course!

Gail

Day 277

Today was Day 277 of  The Red Shoe Project.  Once again, my RED shoes were securely fastened on my feet, but it was another strange day.

It was a QUIET day.

Yesterday was a day of talking with God.  Today was a day of  NO TALKING   -- not with God -- and little to none with anyone else as well, including Pauly.  I've puttered around taking care of a few little things here and there.

This old hymn has been on my mind all day:

"Great is Thy faithfulness," 

O God my Father,

There is no shadow 

of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not,

Thy compassions they fail not;

As Thou has been

Thou forever wilt be.

Great is they faithfulness!

Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning 

new mercies I see;

All I have needed 

Thy hand hath provided.

"Great is Thy faithfulness, " 

Lord, unto me!

I love it when a song or scripture infiltrates my mind during times of quietness.   God puts them there for a purpose.  How appropriate these were for today. 

Lamentations 3:22-26 says this...

Because of the Lord's great love 

we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning; 

great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself, "The Lord is my 

portion, therefore I will wait for him."

The Lord is good to those whose hope 

is in him,  to the one who seeks him;

it is good to wait quietly for the 

salvation of the Lord."

I've learned over the years that when things get real quiet, Daddy's working... on my behalf.

Watching and waiting

   -- QUIETLY --

in RED shoes, 

Gail

Day 276

Day 276 of  The Red Shoe Project was so different than all the rest.  In some ways it was just like every other day -- my RED shoes were on my feet -- but what made it so unique was that I heard the Lord whispering to me all day long and into the night.  He kept saying the same thing over and over again.

"Talk to me."

"I thought I was doing that, Lord?"  

"You can go deeper."  

He said.  "Drop all the formalities and just 

talk with me.   Ask me about everything.  

Remember that old song by Peter, Paul and Mary -- Blowing in the Wind?

"The answer 

my friend 

is blowing 

in the wind.

The answer 

is blowing 

in the wind."

It was as if God's voice was everywhere.

  "Talk to me.  Talk to me."

I tried talking to him.  "Don't use fancy words!"  He said.  "Just talk to me."  To be honest,  it was a little awkward.  "Don't be praising and singing!  Just talk to me."  Finally, I found myself a quiet place.  This was going to take some effort on my part.  The place was so quiet, I fell asleep.  LOL.

Not once -- but twice  -- in two different places!

I took a break from all that and listened to some preaching on YouTube.  The text was Isaiah 59:1 which says...

"Surely the arm of the Lord 

is not too short to save, 

nor his ear too dull to hear."

Quickly, I threw on my RED sneakers and work out clothes and went for my prayer walk.  Ahhhh... the conversation began, finally!  We had a good talk about some things. We  "cleared the air," so to  speak.  He told me that He wants me to speak with Him continually so that I get totally tuned and accustomed to His voice.  He knows that's a concern for me.  Then He reminded me of yesterday's Holy Ghost Hug.  The word that He spoke to me through Zeva was this:  "I know every single one of your concerns!  And I am working on each one of them!"

With all that, I began to meditate on Isaiah 59:1.  God is able to do anything, and his ear doesn't just hear the words of my mouth, but the words of my heart and mind as well.  And He doesn't just hear -- He understands!  He knows me better than I know myself.  He created me.  He wired me.  He understands how I work.  Heck --  I don't even get that!  

So He's working with me.  Somehow, I know He'll get this partnership of ours up and going, functioning at it's optimal best!  

One day at a time,

in RED shoes, 

Gail

Day 275

Day 275 of The Red Shoe Project will be remembered as the day I received...

The Holy Ghost Hug!

HUG = the act of holding someone tightly in one's  arms typically to express affection.

That's the dictionary definition.

A "HOLY GHOST" HUG is a hug in which 

the Holy Spirit supernaturally pours out 

the Love of the Father upon the recipient 

through the mere embrace of a Believer.

Talk about being a vessel that God can flow through!

Early this morning, I popped on my sparkly RED ballet flats, and headed out the door to The Bonfire Bible Study.  A few of us arrived early to set up and pray.  At the end of our little prayer meeting, we took a few moments to pray for one another.  I don't remember all the details, but at one point  someone said  "Now pray for Gail!"  

 Kam,  the "Prayer Warrior"  of the group, embraced me in her arms and began praying in the Spirit.  I just melted!  

It was as if Jesus was 

holding me Himself.  

I'm telling you, I'm not usually a melter!  I don't get all mushy at the drop of a prayer.  But when God decides to clothe Himself in someone, and that someone hugs me... WOE!  

It was so funny, because it was just her and me -- and I was melted.   I could feel God just pouring His love into me.   Just then,  Ziva came over, having heard Kam speaking in tongues,  and announced, "I have the interpretation of that tongue.  -   I do!"  she insisted.  I opened my eyes and looked into her eyes as she told me what God had to say.

BAM!

She hit the nail on the head!

I know she didn't know anything about what she was saying, yet, she was precisely on target!  Well --  I should say, God was precisely on target.  He spoke through her,  directly to me, about  the concerns of my heart.  There's no way she could have known that!  God and I were the only ones privy to those whispered, late night, conversations. 

Before I knew it, prayer time was over, and everyone went in different directions to greet the people as they began arriving.   There I was... standing in the middle of the room --  all by myself --  kind of like a melted ice cream cone.  I was a little out of it, and somewhat wobbly on my feet.  I could feel myself swaying back and forth.  So I took a moment, sat down and pulled myself together.   

WOW!  God had just poured out His Love on me!  God had just spoken directly to me!  I do believe...

I just had a GOD encounter!

Today, I did the teaching at the Bonfire.  We are continuing our Bible study in 

1 Corinthians 12:7-11 on Spiritual Gifts.  Their purpose is to  build up the Body of Christ.  

In that GOD encounter, just moments before, I witnessed three of the Spiritual Gifts listed:  Word of Knowledge, Tongues and Interpretation.  

Now you won't find the "Holy Ghost Hug"  listed there... but there's no doubt in my mind that it's a divine gift, in a category, all its own!   Thank you Jesus!  What a morning!

In RED shoes,

Gail