"Blue Moon"

Stepping Out in RED Shoes!

- Day 49 -

Every once in a blue moon, God says...

"No writing today."

"Be still and know that I am God..."

Psalm 46:10a

In obedience,
Gail

"Trim the Fat!"

Stepping Out in RED Shoes!

- Day 48 -

It's time to cut away 

all the unnecessary excess!

I don't eat meat anymore, but when I did, I didn't much like the fat.  In fact, I would go to great length to trim it off before cooking it.  Now I know they say that it's the fat that flavors the meat, but that didn't matter to me.  There was something totally awful about that jelly-like texture that just turned me off.

As I think about Christianity, 

I've noticed that there's a lot 

of fat -- excess bulk -- that gets 

in the way of all the good stuff!  

But it doesn't have to be that way!

The editing process is always the most challenging part of my work.  When I first sit down to write -- whether it's a blog or a book -- I often start by taking all the thoughts in my head,  and getting them out onto my computer screen where I can see them.  After organizing them in a way that flows easily,  I then have to go back and cut off all the excess fat.  

Sometimes I say the same thing several times over, when I only need to say it once.  Sometimes I realize that I've included things that don't really fit -- at least not in this particular story.  Those kind of things need to be cut out.  They take away from what's important.  

 People want to get right down to what it's all about.  

They don't want to mess with the fat.  

Keeping that in mind, I go back over the material,  again and again and again,  each time cutting out more fat.  Finally -- when I've removed all possible excess --  it's done and ready for publishing!

Today, while worshipping the Lord, I found myself wanting to get right down to the heart of the matter.  I pushed through all the excess -- good stuff, but totally unnecessary in light of eternity.  

What it all came down to was this...

I stand in awe of The Living God,

who by His grace has saved me.

And to top it off...  He  wants to 

have a relationship with me!

Years ago, Phillips, Craig and Dean sang a song,  that hits the nail on the head.

"You are God in Heaven and here am I on Earth

So I'll let my words be few:

Jesus... I'm so in love with you!

I will stand in awe of you, Jesus.

I will stand in awe of you.

I'll let my words be few:

Jesus... I am so in love with you!"

As I step out in RED shoes,  I'm attempting to keep it simple and straightforward -- NO FAT!

"Jesus, I'm in love with you!"

Gail  

"The Secret Word"

Stepping Out in RED Shoes!

- Day 47 -

God's Word for you is no secret.

You just have to look for it!

Back in the 1950s, there was a popular television program called "You Bet Your Life"  which featured comedian of the day -- Groucho Marx -- as its host.  (That was well before my time, but I caught it decades later on reruns.)   In this television game show, Groucho would ask people questions and if they answered them correctly, they would win money.  The most interesting part of the show, however, was his conversation with the contestants.

At the beginning of each program, prior to the contestants coming on stage, a muppet-type duck would be lowered down from the ceiling.  In its mouth, would be a card that showed the audience The Secret Word.  If the contestants happened to say that word during their conversation with Groucho, bells would go off, the duck would appear once again, and they would win a cash prize.

When I woke up this morning, I had some questions for God.  When God speaks something in prayer and it doesn't happen right away, the enemy tries to move in and cause you to doubt.  That presents a problem:

doubt 

- uncertainty 

- confusion 

- question 

- hesitation

God doesn't operate in doubt.

He operates in faith!

faith 

- confidence,  

- conviction, 

- trust, 

- believing

When I arrived at church this morning, a young woman approached me and asked me if I'd pray for her.  She shared with me that God had clearly spoken something to her in prayer and things weren't quite working out the way she thought they would.

First, let me say this...  As the young lady spoke, her face literally glowed.  I could see the confidence, conviction and passion in both her countenance and her spirit.  I'd never seen her like this before.  In fact, it was so bold, I commented on it several times.

We had plenty of time before the service began, so I decided to pray for her right then and there.  When I opened my mouth, I felt as if God, Himself, spoke out.  Not only that...

I could hear the Holy Spirit whisper in my ear,  

"Listen carefully because this is for you too!"

In a nutshell, Here's what He said:

When God speaks something powerfully into our life,
we are to do 3 things.

1.  TRUST that God will do exactly what He's told us.
2.  BELIEVE that all things are possible with God.
3.  PRAY it through until it manifests -- no matter how long it takes.

"The prayer of a righteous person 

is powerful and effective."

James 5:16b

Too often we underestimate the power and effectiveness of our prayers.  

It's not the "only"  thing we can do.

It's the "very"  thing we should do!

If there's one thing that I've learned while wearing RED shoes these last 412 days it's that -- more is accomplished in prayer than anything we can do in the natural.  

Hebrews 11:6 says...

"And without faith it is impossible to please God,

because anyone who comes to Him 

must believe that He exists and that 

He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."

We must trust and believe that God not only hears our prayers, but follows through on them.  That's where it gets tricky.  We often think we know exactly how God's going to do it.  Our human mind quickly devises a plan on how such a thing can be accomplished.  Only thing is... it's not a "man" plan.   It's God's plan, and He thinks and acts differently -- divinely!

We must trust in the Divine Process -- His Way of working the plan out to completion.

Psalm 37:23 says...

"The Lord makes firm the steps of 

the one who delights in Him."

P A R T N E R S H I P

Our job is to pray it out!

God's job is to work it out according to His own specifications!

After church, I met up with my spiritual mentor for a cup of chai.  She asked me to tell her all God had done today.  As I recapped the day, I found myself answering all my questions.  Like Groucho's television show, I could almost hear the bell going off, over and over again,  and the duck coming down saying,  

"That's it!  That's it!  

That's God's Word for you!"

My friend didn't say much, but she smiled a lot!  She told me afterwards that God told her to just listen to me preach to myself.  LOL.  It worked.  I hit the jackpot!  I was able to capture all that God had spoken to me as I stepped out in RED shoes today!

Gail

"Compelled by Love"

Stepping Out in RED Shoes!

- Day 46 -

Compelled =  I can't help it... I simply MUST do it! 

 I'm so in love with Christ and well...

that's His heartbeat!

Tonight I attended the movie, "Compelled by Love" with several of my closest friends.  WOW!  There's not a whole lot to say.  Heidi and Rolland Baker have poured their life out to follow the call of God.  The bottom line?  They say it's all about abandoning yourself and journeying to the heart of God.  Heidi's take on all this?  She said she feels like a little girl standing on her Daddy's toes.  As He walks, she's just along for the ride.

Mel Tari, closed out the evening with a challenge to go deeper ourselves. Between my friends and I... there wasn't a dry eye.  I love that!  Because it means we're all venturing forward with God -- not just individually, but together.  We want more!  More of Him!

In RED shoes,
Gail

"Abundant Love."

Stepping Out in RED Shoes!

- Day  45 -

WOW!  Unexpected Love!

You just never know when that's going to happen!

Okay... so I never, ever do this, but tonight's blog is dedicated to 

my awesome little sister... STEPHANIE.    Thank you!

Today was not one of my best days.  I'm usually incredibly optimistic, positive and trusting in God.  This day, however, I remained under my shield most of the day.  That was the only place safe from the enemy's attack!

On days like this, I just have to keep my mouth shut!  What's that old saying from Walt Disneys' "Bambi?"   

"If you don't have anything good to say, 

don't say anything at all!   

I refuse to allow the enemy to have my tongue.  No way!  I wasn't the best of company today, but at least I didn't make things worse by opening my mouth!  

By the time I got home in the afternoon from my appointments, I was worn out.  I popped on my headphones and attempted to drown out the voice of the enemy with power-packed Christian music.  To be honest, it's Valentine's Day and I wanted to crawl under a rock and hide, but I had an appointment in the evening that I couldn't cancel.  

I prayed!  Boy did I pray!  I must have asked God to forgive me at least 10 times.  I repented over and over again for my bad attitude.  Finally,  I asked Him ever so  sincerely to fill me -- to take over -- to change things around.

At 6 p.m. I headed out to meet up with my dear friend and sister-in-Christ, Stephanie.  She blessed me by doing my nails, not to mention inviting me to her home for dinner.  Oh my gosh!  She cooked me up the most incredible vegetarian meal!  I couldn't believe it!

When we were done, she pulled out a big tray with all sorts of make up.  "Hey... I just cleaned out my entire house and realized I had all this stuff.  Maybe you can use some of it?"  We had a blast looking at all the shades of shadow and lip colors, figuring out what would look best.  She had no clue that I had just finished off my last bottle of foundation, and that my mascara was on it's last legs.  (My guy readers wont get that, but you girls will!)

When we were all done playing, we sat back and had the best sister-to-sister chat.  Sorry...  no sharing,  it's just between us.  I will say this:  Only God can do that!  That doesn't just happen!  Heart-to-heart conversation like that is priceless.  It's a God-thing!  Thank you, Jesus!

Before I knew it, the clock struck midnight and it was time for me to leave.  As I drove home, I thought about how tonight was one of the best Valentine's Days I'd ever had.  Stephanie had literally poured out God's love upon me -- and I don't even think she knew it!  That makes it even more special!

What's so amazing about all this is that God used my sister to turn my heart.  That's right!  She was just being herself, and the Holy Spirit moved through all that love she dished out!  Glory to God!  

Stephanie doesn't wear RED shoes...

 but she stepped out tonight

 - filled with the Holy Ghost - 

and ministered to me.   

I love her!

Gail

"Oops! I spilled!"

Stepping Out in RED Shoes!

- Day 44 -

"Whatever You're filled with...

That's what you'll spill on people!"

That's what God spoke to me first thing this morning as I was putting on my RED shoes to head out the door.  With it, came a flood of thoughts.  What if someone bumps into me today...

"What will I spill on them?  

What am I full of?  

Had I consumed enough of 

His Word this morning to share? 

 Or had I merely nibbled on a toasted bagel?"  

When was I last found soaking in God's presence?  Did I attend the midweek service at my church last night to "fill up?"  or had I resorted to sitting on the couch once again, surfing the channels -- going from  reality show, to sitcom, to news program?  How would that choice effect the lives of those I bump into today?  Does it effect them?

I wonder... Is it even possible to be a blessing to others after gorging myself on television trash for hours the night before?

How do others see me first thing in the morning?   Would they even want me to spill on them?  Or do they hope to avoid me and my verbal vomit of negativity, gossip and perhaps even vulgarity?

Sometimes it doesn't matter how much good stuff you're taking in,  the fact is...

There's a clog! 

An obstruction -- a stumbling block -- a hindrance -- a snag.

A build up of crud that's preventing God from flowing in your life.  

Ugh!  I hate clogs!

Sometimes it's that ONE AREA of weakness.  Other times, it's the build up of all sorts of "little things"  that aren't so good for you.  They seems harmless, in and of themselves, but they have a tendency to get caught on one another.  Before you know it, there's a major obstruction and it all backs up on you, making a total mess! --  Spillage!

Today I saw a homemade recipe for an all-natural concoction that someone swears will unclog any sink or tub.  That got me to thinking...  God's Word has a guaranteed remedy for spiritual clogs.    1 John 1:9 says...

"If we confess our sins, 

He is faithful and just

and will forgive us our sins 

and purify us from all unrighteousness."

That, right there, is like a cupful of Divine Drano!  When you're in desperate need,  just drop to your knees and cry out to God!  You know what the problem is!  Shout it out to Him.  Ask Him to help you!  He will forgive you.  He will cleanse you.  He will fill you with overcoming power! 

There's an old song (based on Romans 8:37) that my dear friend, Mary Ann sings...

"We've been made more than conquerers...

Overcomers in this life.

We've been made victorious...

through the blood of Jesus Christ!"

Once the Spirit is moving again in our lives -- consistently and continually -- there's no worry about what you'll spill on others.  But we need to be mindful of consistently and continually filling ourselves up with the things we wish to spill.   I don't know about you, but my RED shoes remind me to do that!

Gail 

"The Watchmaker."

Stepping Out in RED Shoes!

- Day 43 -

Have you ever seen the inside of a nice watch?  The intricate detail and design is mind boggling!  All those tiny pieces working together for one purpose:  To tell time with precision.

  

 Precision is:

- exactness  

    -  preciseness  

    -  correctness  

          -  meticulousness   

A watch can't just look good. --  It must keep accurate time!  There's nothing worse than having a watch that's slow, or having it stop, altogether!  It has to be dependable, otherwise it's useless!

A skilled watchmaker, with his steady hand and trained eye,  is able to identify exactly what is broken, needs replacing or just requires a bit of polishing!  With specialized tools, he delicately takes the watch apart, does what needs to be done to repair it, and with great care, puts it all back together.  Woolah!   It looks and operates as if it were brand new. 

I don't know about you, but I can be one complicated individual.  When I'm not operating at my best -- let's just say, it's not good!  Don't ask me what's wrong with me!  Most of the time, I haven't got a clue!   I've learned when that happens, to deliver myself -- front and center -- to the Master, Himself  and ask... 

"What gives, LORD?"

 "Please fix me!"

My God is just like that skilled watchmaker.  He's able to open me up, look at all my moving parts, and identify -- on the spot  -- what my problem is.   As long as I'm willing to release myself fully in His care, He'll fix me up, so that I'm as good as new!

Too often our problem is

that we try to fix ourselves!

What a joke!  We shuffle things around. -- We forget what went where. -- We don't know what we're even looking for!  We end up more broken than when we started. 

Today I was praying for a dear friend of mine.  As I was talking to Daddy about her...  BOOM!   

"There it is right there!"

He said.

"That's your problem!"

Wait a minute!  I hadn't even asked Him for help yet!  We were merely talking.  I just put her name out there on the table, and instantly, He cut right to the core.  Right there in my prayer closet, He opened up her life to me,  pointed out what was missing, wrapped everything back up in a bow and moved along!   WOW!  That's God -- Our Maker -- at His best!

There was no stepping out in RED shoes for me today. --  God beat me to it!

Gail