Day 312

It's Day 312 of  The Red Shoe Project and I am wearing my Ruby Reds as I bask in the joy of last night's testimonies. During my evening Bible study, I asked the group if anyone had a testimony or praise report.

"What's a praise report?" 
 someone asked.   

"It's a testimony of what 
God has done with a 
'THANK YOU JESUS!'  
attached."  I responded.


Here are two, in particular, that I must share with you!

I woke up yesterday with a text from my daughter...  "Don't worry Mom, I'm okay!"  Yikes!  What does that mean?  She told me to turn on the news.  It turned out she had gone by the local shopping mall to check out the location of her new job.  It's just minutes from her new apartment -- a quick and easy drive to work!   Shortly after she left, however,  a man went into that same shopping mall with a gun and opened fire.  No by-standers were hurt, but he ended up killing himself.

With all that had transpired, her first day of work was cancelled.  The entire mall was considered a crime scene and taped off -- No Entrance!  
My daughter and her friend decided to enjoy the day,  getting acquainted with her new surroundings.

Originally she was supposed to move into an apartment in another neighborhood.  In the midst of her packing, she received a call that the apartment fell through. The agent rented the apartment to someone else.   How odd?  She thought it was a done deal.  The whole thing seemed a little shady.  With little time to spare,  she thought she was going to have to call and turn the job down.

"Don't be discouraged!"  I told her.   

"This is God at work.  Even though time 

is short, God has something better for you.  

This is a blessing in disguise!  

You'll see."  

Sure enough, we found another agent immediately and she landed an apartment closer to work.

While out and about investigating the new area, my daughter and her friend decided to go by that "original" apartment.  YIKES! -- were they ever surprised.  They found themselves smack in the center of the ghetto.  It was scary!  Needless to say they just kept driving.  It's not the place a young woman wants to live -- with or without Pauly!

"But as for me,  I will always have hope;

I will praise you more and more."

"I will come and proclaim your mighty acts!"

Psalm 71: 14, 16

 I give THANKS to God

    for answering my prayers!  

Truly, He was faithful to...

1.  Get my daughter to Jersey safely in that big truck.
2.  Make sure she got a nice apartment in a safe area.
3.  Keep her safe from harm.

My children are all under the covering of my "prayer tent."   As a mom, I consider it my responsibility to pray them through life.   I take that role very seriously!  They are my most precious gifts from God!  That said, I am continually mentioning their names before the Lord.  They are my top priority and they are at the top of my prayer list -- always!  And I don't wait for them to get into trouble to pray.  From the day the first one was born, I have been making daily deposits into my prayer bank on their behalf.  You never know when you'll need a withdrawal.  A storehouse of prayer is a good thing!

The second praise report that came forth was from a gal in Bible study who is such a lighthouse for God.  I say that because she just glows with the joy of the Lord. She is a wonderful sister in Christ, and her heart is so tender towards the lost.  Week after week she lifts her family and friends in prayer, hoping that they will all come to know Christ.

As a new Christian, that's not always easy.  Once your eyes have been opened, you so desperately want your loved ones to see too!  Usually, that's God's first assignment:  

Pray and Wait!

"I waited patiently for the LORD;

He turned to me and heard my cry."

Psalm 40:1

Last night, this dear sister brought a friend with her to the Bible study.  He testified that his son became a Christian when he went off to college.  He's seen wonderful changes in his boy's life, and he is intrigued!   (Yup -- You know God is after this dad, big time!)  Not really knowing where to look for God or what to do, he noticed my light-house friend, shining brightly amongst the crowd.  "There was something about her smile,"  he said, "She seemed so happy!"  Ever since then, she has been aiding him in his pursuit of God.  

The crazy thing about this testimony is that all this time we've been telling our friend that her presence, alone, is such a witness --  Her smile -- her laugh -- her enthusiasm.  We all know that it's just a matter of time before people start asking questions.  Yahoo!!!!  It's happening now!

When I got home last night, and again today, I've been thinking about my sister's testimony. 

When she thought nothing was going on, 

God was at work!  

Today, that's a message from God for me!  Perhaps it's a message for you as well? 

He is at work in Your life and mine!

Right now --  this very moment --

He's taking care of all the things that are

out of our control -- Things that we are

incapable of doing anything about!

I'm am believing that and resting in it!

In RED shoes, 

Gail

Day 311

Day 311 of  The Red Shoe Project was a day filled with ministry opportunities.  I'm wearing my Ruby Red flats today.  High heels are no place for a battered, bruised and swollen foot!  It's a miracle that my foot was not broken, not to mention that I really haven't had much discomfort.  Thank God!

Last week was unbelievably challenging, but this week is a new beginning.  I'm encouraged!  Today we talked at The Bonfire about the price of God's anointing.  It seems that every powerful minister has paid a price.  They've died to self.  They have gone through humbling times.  They've faced hardships of various sorts.


             Somehow, they come out of it all, 

not with a diploma, 

but with a mantle 

- an anointing 

- a power - a gifting 

that's straight from the 

hand of God!

This morning, as I got up to minister to the woman at The Bonfire,  I noticed something was different.  I immediately sensed the need to pray.  A voice in my head revealed the presence of a spirit of depression, oppression and negativity.   There was a hinderance -- a resistance in the atmosphere.    The room seemed tainted with despair and unbelief.  Without giving it a second thought, I took authority in Jesus' Name, bound those spirits -- casting them out-- and asked God to fill that place with His precious Holy Spirit.

Even still, something was not right.  I sensed the presence of Doubt.  I could hear this voice in my mind.  It was as if someone was whispering... 

"Nothing's going to happen here!"  

Yet, at that very moment, a divine knowing came upon me and I found myself speaking out, under a prophetic anointing... 

"I cast aside that doubt in Jesus' Name.  You're thinking right now that God's doesn't have anything for you.  But I'm here to speak on His behalf.  He knows what you need and He's going to meet to you today!  Even now, you're thinking, ' She's not talking to me.'   But you're wrong.  God is saying,  'It is You!  You're the one He's talking to!'"

How interesting.  It was all so spontaneous -- surreal.  I made no observation myself of resistance.  There was nothing I saw that lead me to believe that oppressive spirits were present to hinder the move of God.

It was a total, 

on-the-spot, download 

of revelation and prophetic utterance.  

I was the one out in front praying... or was I?  To be honest, I felt as if I were set back from the group, watching from afar, this person who looked like me, speak the Word of the Lord. Then suddenly, there I was in the midst of the group.  People were praising God, clapping, and bearing witness to the Word that had been given.

An Empty Vessel

That's what it was!  I was merely an empty vessel that God had decided to pour into and use. 


It got me to wondering... Is that what God was doing this past week?  I saw it as a week of challenge and difficulty.  Perhaps God saw it as something entirely different.  Perhaps it was merely the process of tweaking or fine tuning a vessel to be used by Him?

"and I will give you treasures 

hidden in darkness -- secret riches.  

I will do this so you may know that

 I am the LORD, the God of Israel, 

the one who calls you by name.

Isaiah 45:3  NLT

I'm meditating on that -- in RED shoes --

 and thinking about the One who has called me by name!

Gail

Day 309 and 310

I thought I had the answer on this 309th Day of  The Red Shoe Project.  I gathered together a small group of solid Christian women for counsel, hoping for wisdom on what direction to take at this point.  I shared with them my story, my heart, and what I thought might be divine guidance.   Could God be beckoning me to move through a door? 

"Where there is no counsel, 
the people fall; 

but in the multitude of counselors 

there is good advice."  

Proverbs 11:14

Sporting my RED shoes, I laid out the plan.  All agreed it looked good.  It seemed to be divinely put together and set in my lap.  It had all the markings of God.  What astonished me most was not so much that it met my personal need, but it blew open a door of unexpected creativity.   Next thing I knew, I was offered a speaking opportunity in December and a potential conference early in the new year.  That's not the half of it.  There was a ripple effect.   Divine opportunity seemed to be bursting forth for everyone present.  It's a glorious thing seeing God move like that! 

With the blessing of my colleagues, I made up my mind to "test the waters."  I'd step through the open door that seemed so divinely presented and go from there.  What a relief!   NOT.  As I stepped through what I thought was a threshold of opportunity, I was met with an unexpected onslaught of verbal bashing.  It was a "NO GO!"  Slowly, I backed out and shut the door behind me.  Now, here I sit at Starbucks, licking my wounds and drinking my second cup of chai.  

Where are you God?  What's the next step?  I see nothing -- no open door -- no specific direction.  But... 

I am reminded of an old sermon I once heard.  It was a lesson in which the preacher talked about a rock climber reaching upward to get a grasp on something in order to pull himself up.  His hold gave way and he found himself slipping down the face of the rock.  

Lost ground!  

He picked himself up and started back where he last had a strong footing.   Hmmmmm.  Where did I last have strong footing?    I believe it was when God told me  "everything I was looking for was in the prayer closet."   I shall spend tonight there -- in the closet -- looking for direction.  Surely it's there.

Determination is:
perseverance,  
persistence,  
and 
tenacity!

This girl in RED shoes is not giving up!

Gail  


Day 310

I was up at the crack of dawn of this 310th Day of  The Red Shoe Project.  Last night was spent in prayer and I do believe I have received direction from God.  I popped on my Ruby Reds and headed out to take care of some early morning business.  It was a profitable morning and I am feeling good!

It's interesting... yesterday I prayed with a gal for healing and it came to my attention that she harbored a lot of anger and unforgiveness.  I told her...

"You have got to release 
that in order for 
God to move!"

Later in the day, I had a conversation with a dear friend about anger and forgiveness.  It seems that it's a matter of choice.  One must choose, before God, to let go and release.  It can't be about feelings.  Feelings will cause you to hold on.

After the escapade of the verbal bashing, I had to do just that... Let Go!   I'm not one to take offense, but some hurtful things were said to me.  I made it a point to get with God, talk it out, and let it go!  Are you kidding me?  The last thing I need now is the obstacle of unforgiveness in my path!  God gloriously took it, and I am free to move forward without hesitation.  Hallelujah!  I know that is a sign of blessing and favor.  

Having prayed and slept on things, I am not upset at going through yesterday's door.  Yes... it didn't turn out as I expected,  BUT I needed to check that option out.  With that door closed, I am now free to explore other opportunities.  If I hadn't done that, I would always be thinking,  "What if?"

As instructed, I have brought my Bible in the prayer closet with me.  I have been reading in 1 Kings 17 about Elijah.  It does seem that the ravens that have been feeding me are not returning, and the brook has run dry.  Like Elijah, I have been waiting on direction from God.  Today... I have left that dried up place and stepped out by faith to discover the next phase of God's plan for me.

I have prayed very specifically for God to open and shut doors.  With that, I am not boxing God into my small ideas and expectations.  I have no clue what's next! Yet,  I am believing, by faith that...

 "The steps of a righteous man 

are ordered by the Lord;

and He delights in his way.  

Though he fall, he shall not 

be utterly cast down: 

for the LORD holds him up 

with his hand."

Psalm 37:23-24 

I know it's time to get up and move.  As I walk, He will guide.  He will turn me in this direction or that.  Sitting at the dried up brook is no longer an option.    I am not scared.  It's time for a new adventure.  Here I go...

in RED shoes,

Gail

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