Day 284

It's getting close to midnight.  What a great 284th Day of  The Red Shoe Project!  As I sit here typing, still in my RED shoes, two words are rolling
off my tongue:

"THANKS  DAD!"

The other day, I looked at my big stack of books and  chose one at random.

Riches Stored 

in Secret Places, 

by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.

  "A Devotional Guide for 

Those Who Hunger After 

the Deep Things of God." 

Sounds like a good book, right?  Who knew that it contained such a powerful and timely message that would penetrate  my heart? 

Reading this book is easy.  The font size is nice and the chapters are short.  Even so, I am still -- after three days -- in chapter one.  I can't stop reading and re-reading the first three pages.  LOL!  They are so specific to where I am right now, I feel like I've hit a gold mine.  The key scripture is found in 

1 Corinthians 2:9-10.

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, 

no mind has conceived what God has

prepared for those who love him --

but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit."

It's no secret to my "Rubies" that my biggest challenge this year has been living by faith.  God has spent the last nine months, unwinding my mindset of the world's perspective on finances, and teaching me great and mighty things.  Knowledge, however, is nothing if it can't be applied!

Thereby, God has personally enrolled me in His Internship Program 

so that I can get true hands on experience.  Thus:  

 Living by Faith.

Let me share what Ms. Dean says that has grabbed ahold of me so profoundly... (It's found on page 11.)

"When I was a college student, I didn't pay my own bills.  My dad paid them.  Once I dropped a bill in the mail to him, I never worried about it.  In my mind, it became his bill immediately.  I cast all my debts on Dad and left them there.  Why?  Because he had promised to pay my bills, I knew that he had everything I needed available for me and with my best interest at heart, he always released it on my behalf when I asked."

I'm not going to get stuck on the fact that it took nine months of unwinding and preparing my heart and mind before Dad put this book in my hands.  I'm just eager to devour it, believing already that just as it's title declares, it contains, Riches Stored in Secret Places.   I don't know if you understand the challenge of Living by Faith, but finally I am on the brink of discovery!  Hallelujah!  

And  by the way...  Today was another day of reaping the harvest field!   A few months ago, God instructed me to take a gift to someone.  When I asked what I could possibly give this woman,  He instructed me to give her my favorite prayer book.  It was an old, old copy of John Baillie's  A Diary of Private Prayer.  Worn out, the book wasn't much to look at, but I treasured it all the same, for the words within it were precious to me.  Today, while browsing in the local used book store, I found another copy of this rare book -- $2.99 -- and in very good condition!  THANK YOU DAD!

When I got back home, a message awaited me on my phone.  Some friends invited to come by.  Little did I know that they would lavish me with dinner, a delightful time of uplifting conversation, and an array of gifts, which included a financial blessing that is a true answer to prayer.  GOD IS GOOD!

I don't like to talk about such matters regarding finances, however, you have been praying and believing with me, all this time.  The harvest has arrived and it is only right that you be blessed along with me in knowing that God is, in fact, faithful.  With that said, I will continue to report this good news!

Lovingly,

Your gal in  Red shoes,

Gail

Day 283

It's Day 283  of  The Red Shoe Project and all day I've been in my RED flats helping out various family members.  It's been a day of driving to this airport and that one, picking up and dropping off.

While I've been helping others, 

God has been busy, helping me!

It always catches me by surprise when He does this!  Every time -- when I finally I stop worrying about life -- and just go about my business -- specifically helping others -- God delivers!

• He comes through.
• He provides the goods.  
• He drops the blessing.
• He opens the door.
• He lights up the path.
• He declares the plan.
• He fulfills the promise.

Sometimes it's one of those things, sometimes it's many.  

It all started two days ago when something small and unusual happened.  I went into the grocery store to pick up a couple necessities.  My budget was limited, so I had to stick to just what was on my list.  One of those things was a little bottle of olive oil.  At the front of the store, there was a table set up with a woman giving samples of olive oil and a coupon for a special price.  I asked her  the price and she said, "With the coupon, $4.99."  I agreed to the sale and put the olive oil in my basket.  When going through the register, I thought the final amount seemed rather high.  I paid the bill, took my receipt and headed out the door.  

Oops!  They charged me $8.00 for that olive oil.  I went to the customer service desk to check on the matter, and the manager insisted on my not only keeping the olive oil,  but then she reimbursed me the $8.00.  Really?  No.  No.  I tried to tell the manager that didn't seem right, but she kept insisting that I was to take the money.  "But wait a minute!"  I responded. "You're giving me too much!"  Even still, she wouldn't take no for an answer, practically forcing the money in my hand with a smile.

Yesterday afternoon, my prayer partner and I met to discuss the things of God.  Right there and then, while we were together, an unexpected answer to prayer was delivered into my hands.  Praise the Lord!  I giggled with joy and shared the olive oil story with her.  "How bizarre is that? "  I asked. 

"It's a turning point!" she said.  "I'm telling you, it's started!  That olive oil incident might seem small, but it's just the beginning of  The Harvest of Blessing!"

Turning Point - a time at which an 

issue has been settled and a change 

in a situation occurs, especially one 

with beneficial results. 

Even today, the harvest continues.  I happened to be in the area of my friend's business, with a few minutes to spare, so I stopped in to see how her mother was recovering from a recent ailment.  She wasn't there, but another friend shouted, "Wait a minute, I have a gift for you!"  A gift?  "Yes, I saw this and thought of you!"   It was a beautiful container with a RED shoe on it.  How thoughtful of her!

When I finally arrived home this evening... What's this?  A note was waiting for me, telling me to look under my welcome mat.  There I found a rather large sum of money in an envelope with a letter that about blessed my socks off!  

"Do You hear the sound of abundance of rain?"  it said!

Before saying goodnight, my daughter and I, together, gave thanks to God and joyfully sang this famous hymn:

Great is Thy 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!

Truly God's Harvest of Blessing has just begun!  You know a blog only allows me space enough to share  highlights.  There are signs that other dams may be about to burst as well -- Other prayers and promises about to be fulfilled.  I will let you know.  

In Red shoes, 

Gail

Day 282

Day 282 of  The Red Shoe Project found me teaching in RED shoes at  The Bonfire Women's Bible Study.  A couple of interesting conversations came up while we continued our study of the spiritual gifts found in
1 Corinthians 12:7-11.  Today we were focusing on the Gifts of Healing.

During our discussion, the topic of "Resistance"  came up.

"Resistance"    is  the  refusal  to  accept 

or comply with something;  the attempt to

prevent something by action or argument.

Of course, none of us, consciously, resist when it comes to healing.  You're sick -- you go up to the prayer line for healing -- and you do that because you want to be made well.  Or do you?

"When Jesus  saw him lying there 

and learned that he had been in this 

condition for a long time, He asked him,

 "Do you want to get well?"

John 5:5

Our discussion today focused not on people who don't want to be well, but more so on people who want to be well but, for whatever reason, can't seem to get a healing.  For some, years have gone by.  They've tried everything.  They've been to doctor after doctor.  They've gone to this prayer group and that.  And... NOTHING!  Nothing has happened!   

One gal gave an interesting testimony of how she was scheduled for back surgery, but chose to go to  a conference with a friend first.  In extreme pain, she endured the long ride there, hoping that God would heal her and the surgery would be unnecessary.   En route, something was said by her friend that caused a slight spirit of contention between them.  Upon arrival at the conference, the Spirit of God was moving powerfully, and the time came to pray for healing.  The friend laid hands on the injured woman to pray, and nothing was happening. God was doing all sorts of miracles all around them, but not with her.   At that moment, God spoke to the injured woman clearly. "You're resisting!"  He said.  She couldn't believe that God had called her on it.  She didn't want to admit it, but she realized it was true.  She immediately confessed her sin and BOOM!  -- The Spirit of God moved through the friend and into the woman like rushing water from a broken dam.  The woman flew backwards landing on the floor.  The Power of God was so strong, she couldn't get up for the longest time.  Then suddenly, she got up and walked away, completely healed.  The surgery was cancelled. 

Another friend shared her story.  She was visiting Jerusalem with a group of friends.  During a tour, the group had to go down some stairs into a room to view a place where Jesus had been.  Because of her asthma, the woman had to wait outside.  She so desperately wanted to take a look and couldn't.  She bowed her head and said, "Lord, either heal this asthma or take me home!  I can stand it no longer!"  BOOM!  Her asthma was healed and she joyfully joined the group.

Motivational speaker and author, Pat Mesiti says...

"You will not change until 

the pain of staying the same 

becomes greater than 

the pain of change."

"Change doesn't happen by 

chance, but by choice.  

And that's often triggered 

by something."

"I can't stand it anymore!!!   This is what the Word of God says!  

It works for others, but for some reason it's not working for me!"

There's all sorts of reasons why things that should happen, don't.  Sometimes there's unconfessed sin.  Sometimes it's fear.  Sometimes there's spiritual warfare at work.  The list goes on and on.  Sometimes, because something doesn't happen the first time, or the way we wanted or expected it to, we close up.  We decide that it must not be for us.  We make excuses.  We determine it's not God's will.  We do lots of things that could be considered RESISTING.  Know this...

The enemy is at work!

He's a deceiver!

Lying is his native language!

He wants to rob you of your healing!

Don't let him!  Victory is yours!  Keep trying!  Keep going back!  Do what I like to refer to as "Wrestling with God" (Genesis 22:34)  That's when you grab ahold of God's Word and in all your frustration, you work it out with God.  You say... "I don't get it God!  You're Word says this and it's not happening!  I'm not going to let go of you until you bless me!"  Careful!  Your life will never be the same after a wrestling match with God.  

Someone once got very angry with me on this matter.  She felt that it was wrong and sinful to do such a thing.  I beg to differ here.  Jacob is our Biblical example of this being acceptable.  And not just that -- God blessed Jacob and changed his name to Israel immediately afterwards.  God understands our human frustration.  You think you want to understand.  God wants you to understand even more!  He wants you to "get it!" -- the understanding you're yearning for as well as the blessing! 

Okay, so my whole point here is:    Don't give up!  Work it out with God!  If something isn't working for you, ask God to reveal why. Then follow through on what He tells you.  Don't drop the ball.  Keep going!  And just in case you're wondering,  "Wrestling with God"   could take minutes... or it could take hours, days, months,  even years.  Dont' expect a 3 minute round.  

Are you ready for change? 

Wrestling in Red Shoes,

Gail

Day 281

It's Day 281 of  The Red Shoe Project and I awoke to rain.  That's right, this morning was overcast and rainy.  I opened the door and let Pauly take a look.  Yeah... he had no interest in going for a walk any more than I did.  Half an hour later, however, the rain had stopped, and being the good master that I am,  I threw on my RED flats, grabbed the leash and took Pauly out.  It was still too early to tell whether or not the rain would be back or not, so we got out while we could.

Recently God spoke to me about a door of ministry He would be closing.  

"Don't take it personally, Gail!"  He said. 

 "It's just easier this way."  

"Paul and his companions traveled 

throughout the region of Phrygia 

and Galatia, having been kept by 

the Holy Spirit from preaching the Word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to." 

Acts 16:6-7

SHUT DOORS:  Why do we make this so difficult  for ourselves?

So often, God is simply directing us on the way in which we should go.  He closes doors so we know that's not the way.  Sometimes there are doors that  

"in the natural"  should be open.  It doesn't make sense that they are closed.  Perhaps you've earned it!  - or -  It's open to everyone else!  - or - You're the most qualified!  Maybe it's  "the next natural thing in line"   for you.  

"There's a way that appears to be right, 

but in the end it leads to death."

Proverbs 14:12

God knows best! His ways are not always "the next natural thing in line."  Think of it like this:  Let's say the door that you're supposed to go through is the 10th door.  If the nine doors before it were all open, you'd spend a lot of time in places that you didn't belong.  When time is of the essence, He locks the doors to make it easy.  You try this one -- it's locked -- so you move to the next.  That door's locked too! -- so you move along to the next and the next, until you find the open door.

Now if you find an open door, and you realize that you don't belong there.  That's what we call "A TEST".  If you know you don't belong there, get yourself out -- collect your gold star for passing the exam and move to the next door.  You can't use the excuse that the door was open so you must belong there.  Nice try, but it doesn't work that way.

Sometimes... the door was originally open, and you were in fact meant to be there,  but now it's time to leave. Whatever was meant to happen has taken place.  There's nothing more to be done there.   That season of life is over.  

Sometimes we step through the threshold but we stick one of those wedges in the door.  We're afraid the door will lock behind us and we wont be able to get back in if we want to.   Perhaps our heart is tied to something or someone in there?  -- good or bad -- it doesn't matter.  God says the time has come to move on.

I know that there have been times in my life when somehow my brain or my heart, or all the little voices in my head fed me 1001 excuses as to how that couldn't possibly be true.  Of course I belonged in there!  Oh...  God told me to walk away.  God told me that wasn't for me.  God even showed me that it wasn't to my benefit, but even with all that... I stayed.  Did He have to pick me up, carry me out, shut the door and lock it?  Yup!  He did.  But looking back, a lot of time was wasted due to my delay.

This time, however, it's different.  He's not talking about all that.  He's just directing.  The Bible says...

"The Lord makes firm the steps 

of the one who delights in Him."

Psalm 37:23

He's telling me straight out, in advance, He's going to shut a door.  How interesting it is that He also told me not to take it personally?   So often we do, don't we?  Instead of just accepting that God says it's time to go,  we want to point fingers at people.  

• "Why are you doing this to me?"  
• "Why won't you help me?"  
• "Why won't you stay with me?"  
• "Why would you hurt me like that?"   

And it's not any of that at all.  That's our flesh wanting to make something out of nothing.  God's closing the door!  Interesting!  That's  "A TEST"  in and of itself.  

 Don't just get yourself out of there, 

keep your mouth shut in the process! 

 "OUCH!"

Time to kick off my RED shoes 

and ponder those things awhile!

Gail