Days 307 & 308

It's Day 307 of  The Red Shoe Project.  I've slipped on my comfortable RED beach shoes and have been helping my daughter pack up the fourteen foot  U-Haul.  I can't believe that her and Pauly will be taking off for Jersey tomorrow.  That will be their new home.  Pauly will be an official Jersey Boy!

Optimistically speaking, financial challenges have made things a little uncomfortable.  I am continuing to worship the Lord and waiting on Him for direction.  Quite frankly, I'm a little confused.  I've done all He has asked of me, on every count.  The ball is in His court now and I am patiently waiting His return.

What I was anticipating, has not happened.  Why is that?  I don't know.  Divine Timing perhaps?  Many have questioned my ways, and the multitude of voices in my head have thought it fit to join in their choir of discouragement.   Being the recipient of their verbal downloads, one after the other, has been incredibly wearisome.  Others have backed away.  They don't know what to think.  They are hoping for my sake, I have heard from God.  They would like that.  They tell me their prayers are with me -- I'm thankful for that.

Today, I am doing my best to worship the Lord and believe that He will still come through.  Many have already offered up their  "I told you so!  Go out and get a job!"  It's not that I haven't considered that, but God has been so adamant on the matter -- I hate to go there so quickly.  So quickly?  Many thought I should have done that months ago... some thought I should have done that January 1st.  This RED Shoe Project, though interesting, is not big enough, in their eyes, to shelf one's life for a year.

My foot has been pain free all day.  It is no longer in the shape of a big baseball.  Instead the swelling has spread and my injured foot and ankle is almost double the size of the other.  To be honest, there's part of me that just wants to sit down and cry.  I feel alone. But there's no time for any of that.  I need to hold together until tomorrow.  I need to get my daughter off and on her way.  Besides... perhaps things will change between now and then.  "One more day!"

A couple "rubies" have texted me wonderful words of prayer and encouragement.  Their voices are refreshing streams of water to my soul.  THANK YOU, my friends.  Just knowing you're on my side and that you're praying is strengthening!

It's hot in the house and Pauly is not used to that.  His panting is relentless.  I have moved my bedding to the living room floor in hope that he will find comfort lying on the cool tile, and perhaps we will get a little sleep.  It's not quite how I pictured our last night. Even so, he has turned down his tile bed, planted himself  beside me on the comforter,  and is insistent that he cuddle close.  I guess that's how he pictured our last night together.  He's true to the end!  LOL.  I hope I am as faithful to God -- True to the end...

 in RED shoes,

Gail


Day 308

My daughter, Jordan, her friend Patty and Pauly are officially "on the road"  on this 308th Day of  The RED Shoe Project!  God grant them traveling mercies!  I was concerned that Pauly wasn't going to be able to get into the cab of the truck, but he surprised us all, by jumping up with excitement.  All he needed was a little boost!  He sees the whole thing as one big adventure.  I am reminding myself to do the same as I put on my RED flip flops for the day!

I have headed out to Starbucks where I am charging my phone and laptop, and getting caught up with my facebook postings.  Please stay with me.  I am committed to this RED Shoe Project and will  keep writing each day, doing my best to post on time.  Know that your prayers are greatly appreciated!

Today a dear sister read a recent posting of mine and shared her morning devotional with me.  The scripture reference was Acts 12:5...  

"Peter therefore was kept in prison: 

but prayer was made without ceasing 

of the church unto God for him"

The author talked about God baptizing people with Holy Audacity and Divine Confidence!  

"Audacity"  is the willingness to take bold risks.

A. B. Simpson said, 

" He is not wanting great men, 

but He is wanting men who will 

dare to prove the greatness of their God!"

What an awesome word and how apropos!  It has brought excitement to my soul!  I am standing on this for today for it is in alignment with what God has spoken to me.  THANK YOU dear sister for your obedience in sharing that word of Divine Encouragement!  May God reward you for it!  

Meanwhile, another dear sister has offered to ice my foot for me and share a cup of tea.  I am off to pay her a visit now...

in my RED flip flops,

Gail  

Day 306

It's Day 306 of  The Red Shoe Project and some things have "come to a head."  That's an expression used to describe when all the yucky stuff comes to the surface -- like a pimple!  GROSS!

My eyes were barely open.  I was still in bed.  I took a few minutes, regardless,  to worship the Lord and told Him how much I love Him!  The dream of yesterday's time together was still fresh on my mind.

Looking at the time, I picked up my cell and connected with my prayer pal.  Might as well get the prayer line going!  She showered me with bold and encouraging words!  She was holding strong with her own dilemmas and added mine to her list.  I wasted no time in throwing on my RED sneakers and headed out for an early prayer walk.  I was eager to hear from God on the matter.

  I did have an overwhelming peace.

 That's a GOOD sign!

I was about a mile from my house.  I had left the development and headed out into the real world to walk for a bit.  For a quarter mile, I'd be on a busy road with traffic, but soon enough, I'd be back on a walking path that's more subdued. It was the perfect prayer trail!

As I stepped off the curb to quickly cross the street,  BOOM!  down I went.  YIKES!   I don't know what happened, but there I lay on the main road, my knee bleeding and my ankle twisted.  Oh no!  I couldn't get up for the life of me, and the traffic light had changed to green.  There I was crawling to the sidewalk to get out of the way.   Looking back on it now... I can laugh, but at the time, it was a little scary.  I quickly assessed the situation.  The wind had been knocked out of me.  With that, I hobbled back to the development.  Perhaps I was meant to stay closer to home for the day?

I got home just fine, but by then my ankle was black and blue and the size of a baseball.  I situated myself on the lanai, by the pool, and wrapped my ankle with an ice pack.  There I stayed for the rest of the day... worshipping and praying, all the same.  It was a profitable time of prayer.  The peace of God surrounded me.

Regarding my personal dilemma, the Lord kept saying...

"Speak it out, Gail!  

Speak it into existence!"

And so, I did just that.  Between words of prayer and songs of worship, I called out the promises of God - not in hope that they will happen, but as if they already are happening!   I will continue in this fashion until I see it!

"...even God, who quickens the dead, 

and calls those things which be not 

as though they were."

Romans 4:17b  KJV

My prayer pal is doing just the same.  We are in one accord on this!  There's no way, I'm going to let her climb to the top of God's majestic mountain alone and get the victory.   How awful would that be for her to plunge in her personal flag of conquest on the mountaintop, while I retreated to the valley in despair, a loser?  Yeah... there's no way I'm going to let that happen.  We are in this together to WIN!

"If God is for us, who can be against us?"  Romans 8:31

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."  Romans 8:37

"A three-fold cord is not easily broken!"  Ecclesiastes 4:12

"Pray without ceasing!"  1 Thessalonians 5:17

"To Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us..."  Ephesians 3:20

What's this I found in the back of my prayer closet?  I do believe it's referred to as "Old Pentecostal Prayer."   Man... I haven't used this in decades!  I'm trusting it still works!!!

God must have something BIG in store

to pull this out of the closet!

This is a spiritual battle of great magnitude, but my friend and I are praying it down until we get the victory!  Old Pentecostal Prayer is the perfect weapon of choice!

In Red Shoes,
Gail

Day 305

Today is Day 305 of  The Red Shoe Project.  I was up and out the door in RED sneakers,  prayer walking, bright and early.  After that... it was a day of prayer and worship.  That's right... I said a DAY.   It didn't start off that way, but it ended up that way.  It all changed when the Lord said...

"Please don't go...  

Spend the whole day with Me!  

I'd really like that."

Really? I asked.

"Yes,"  He said, "Really!"

It's not like I had anything on my calendar.  I could do it if I wanted to.  There was no place I had to be -- No necessary appointments.  

Okay Lord...  

I will stay!"

I grabbed my laptop (for music), my Bible, my journal and a pen.  I sat on the lawn chair, in the shade, by the pool.  I stayed there, all day,  worshipping, chatting with God, and looking at scriptures in the Bible.  It was wonderfully peaceful.  God is the best company.  

I'm convinced I need to do this more often!

As I sat there quietly in His presence, with my eyes closed, the Holy Spirit put a song on my lips.  I had long forgotten this old favorite.  It was a delight to let it roll off my tongue.  Perhaps you remember it?

"I just want to be where You are...

Dwelling daily in Your presence.

I don't want to worship from afar.

Draw me near to where you are.

I just want to be where You are...

In Your dwelling place forever.

Take me to the place where you are.

I just want to be with you.

I want to be where you are

dwelling in your presence

feasting at Your table,

surrounded by Your glory.

In Your presence...

that's where I always want to be.

I just want to be... I just want to be with You.

Oh my God, You are my strength and my song

and when I'm in Your presence, 

though I'm weak You're always strong."

No shoes today,

Gail

Day 304

I had to laugh as I wore my RED shoes on this 304th Day of  The Red Shoe Project.  Several  of my "rubies" have asked me the same question:

"So do you actually have a 

closet that you go into to pray?

I've seen pictures online where people have converted actual closets into prayer rooms of sorts.   Interesting... but small!  I was visiting a friend years ago, and happened to look in a closet for something in his spare room.  To my surprise, I found a little altar with a cross, and lots and lots of candles.  It struck me as a little weird at the time.  Hey --  To each his own --  Who am I to judge?  My thought is this:  

If it works... Go for it!  

I can see why people like to have a little designated area that they can go to and pray.  That makes sense.  But if it's for show...  or if it's virtually unused...  Don't waste the space!  On the other hand, if you truly use the space -- if you literally, go in, shut the door behind you and pray --  more power to you!  Whatever it takes to get you going in, day after day, to converse with God...  I'm all for it!

My main prayer room is my bedroom.  I can easily prop up the pillows, sit back and pray comfortably.  There's a side table with a lamp,  inspirational books, and my Bible, as well as a sketchpad, journal and pencils.  My laptop is there incase I want to listen to worship music.  What's better than that? 

 I must admit, however, I don't sit on the bed for long.  It's too comfortable.  Most times I pace back and forth at the foot of the bed.  Sometimes, during intercession, I grab ahold of the bedpost, as if I were holding onto the horns of the altar.  I pray things out and don't let go until I sense a breakthrough! 

I like the venue of my bedroom for prayer because I can easily shut the door, cutting myself off from the rest of the household.  It gives me privacy to wrestle matters out with God.  There are no distractions there -- not to mention, that Pauly will lay comfortably, snoozing for hours, freeing me to pray up a storm.  If I try to sit anywhere, Pauly sometimes thinks I'm playing.  When I pace, He snoozes.  Other spots in the house are certainly optional, but generally speaking, they lack privacy. 

 I do have a second location for prayer. 

 I call it the "M. P. C."
- or -

The Mobile Prayer Closet

I consider all  "prayer on the move"  as  mobile prayer.   Prayer walking certainly falls into this category, as does praying in the car.  Over the years,  I've had some powerful prayer times while driving.  It's not as private as my bedroom, by far, but between tinted windows and earbuds, I'm totally inconspicuous. The issue of the past was that people would think you were a crazy person, talking to yourself, let alone praying, right?  But nowadays, with everyone constantly on their cell phones, no one knows the better.  Pray away!!!

There's a 3rd location I frequent often -- perhaps most of all!   

I refer to it as...

"The Prayer Room 

of My Mind."  

Wherever I am, all I have to do 

is shut my eyes, 

focus inward, and I'm there!  

Many times, over the years, I've been in need of a  divine conference  "on the spot" and there's no conference room available.  What to do?  The prayer room of my mind is open 24/7 and it's easy to access.  I may be in an elevator, a ladies room, the booth of a restaurant, a church pew, someone's living room, the movie theater, the grocery store,  the gym,  the park... you name it -- I just shut my eyes and I'm in!  It's that easy.  So you see, there's never an excuse not to pray.  

-- Please consider --

I want to leave you today with something very important to consider.  When I was young, I was married for quite some time to a minister who had a powerful anointing to lead worship.  One of the key observations I made of him in his gifting was this:  He had the ability to stand on the platform, close his eyes, enter into worship and at the same time, open the door for others to follow him in.  It was an awesome feat and he achieved it with ease.  The Lord told me the other day, that in the exact same way, I am able to walk into the prayer closet, and simultaneously hold the door open for others to follow.  That said, I want to encourage you to follow me in.

Don't be a mere observer.  

I'm inviting you to come with me!

In RED shoes, 

Gail