Monthly Archives: July 2012

Assurance - Promise, Christian Living, KWT Paraphrasing

Beauty! Give Me Some of That!

Gallery 1 Comment

1 Peter 3:3-4 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

3 Your beauty should not consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornaments or fine clothes.
4 Instead, it should consist of what is inside the heart with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very valuable in God’s eyes.
via I peter 3:3-4 HCSB – Your beauty should not consist of – Bible Gateway.

Your beauty should not consist of outward things

I got that far and was stopped.

How many outward things do I do to enhance my appearance? How many changes of clothes do I make some days before I leave out my front door? How often do I linger in front of the mirror wishing the reflection looks different? Those questions I am not going to answer – not here in print anyway.  :)

But I am answering them as I read: Your beauty should not consist of outward things

No way do I believe that ABBA is saying that clothing and hair products and colors and even out those tones foundations are inappropriate.

Yet. I am back to this again: Your beauty should not consist of outward things

Beauty? I have beauty? How often have I worked for beauty and was certain I had failed?
I work for the wrong thing when I overtly busy myself with hair and face and clothes.

In this passage, ABBA says you do well my daughter when you attend the beauty of SPIRIT – a gentle and quiet spirit.

Gentle. We know what that means don’t we? Do we? Look with me at this.

Definition

  1. mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit, meekness

Meekness toward God is that disposition of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting. In the OT, the meek are those wholly relying on God rather than their own strength to defend them against injustice. Thus, meekness toward evil people means knowing God is permitting the injuries they inflict, that He is using them to purify His elect, and that He will deliver His elect in His time.

So if I desire to be beautiful I will apply more than fine hair products, more than colors and foundations to my face, more than drape modest classy-looking clothes on my frame, I will consistently refuse to resist the work of the HOLY SPIRIT inside me. I will accept all His dealings with me as good. I will rely on my ABBA when injuries come; whether those injuries, pains, and griefs come at the hands of evil-doing people or just because this world in which I live is hostile to God and me.

But what about quiet? We know what quiet means, right? Look at this from my online Greek Lexicon:

to lay hold of a thing, to adhere or cling to; to be closely joined to a person or a thing

So to be gentle I will not resist the HOLY SPIRIT. To be quiet. I will be closely joined to Him. Not only will I not resist but I will eagerly seek and cling to Him. 

Do this and I will be a woman of beauty, a woman ABBA highly favors and values.
Even when I run to Walmart with NO even-out-the-tones foundation, NO colors or mascara for my eyes, my hair in a ponytail, and my not small enough frame clad in a wrinkled T-shirt and Capri pants with stains.

So next time you see me that way, look for a JESUS smile on my face and His love in my eyes and if that is what you see, I am certain you (and I) will think I’m a woman of beauty.
And you know what?
If you are adorned the same, I will know you are a woman of beauty too!!

Thank You, ABBA, for stopping me short this morning. I pray all my sisters and my brothers will seek this ‘beauty’ that You have for us.  Again, we ask that You heal our sick and afflicted and that You rescue our rebellious and oblivious Ones. I ask, please forgive us, please have mercy, and pour out great conviction and repentance on we the people for JESUS’ sake. Amen and amen.

We have the God-given Right to do right in this wrong World,

Forgiveness, KWT Paraphrasing, Repentance

White Shirt

Gallery Leave a comment

I’m having a reoccurring dream. I think there is a message in it. For me and perhaps for someone else.

Old stains.

Old stains. Dirty strains. Strains too deep, too wide, too dark. The white shirt is soiled. I am ashamed to wear it.

But wait.

What’s this?

Water and an iron?

It’s work. Applying water and pressing. More water. More pressing.

Wait this can’t be. Just water and pressing can’t do this!

But it is. It’s working! The strains are lighter. And lighter.  And lighter. They’re gone!

My shirt is white again. It’s beautiful!  I’m so excited to wear it! 

Isaiah 1:17-19 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow. 

18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “ Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow;  Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.

19 “ If you consent and obey, You will eat the best of the land;
source

The BLOOD of JESUS is enough to cleanse every stain of sin; to remove as far as the east is from the west the penalty we have earned for our sins. Yet to remove the ugly stain from our emotions often requires some ironing – applying the WATER of the WORD and the PRESSING of the HOLY SPIRIT into our spirit.

What old stains are spoiling your pretty white shirt?

Perhaps you and JESUS have some ironing to do. We are meant to wear clean white garments!

ABBA, I’m putting this out here, it’s sketchy I know; yet it speaks to me. Perhaps You can use it to speak to just one someone out there whose remembering some old stuff that You want to clean and press and allow her to wear Your Beautiful Testimony before the world. Perhaps some memories are hanging on and dirty-ing up his heart that You have long ago washed away; help them believe and put on their white shirts and live as the citizens of Heaven here on earth You desire us to live.  As this day is stretched out before us with its many, many things to do I pray we will put on our white garments, the full armor You have provided for us and live this day for Your glory and our own good. We come with our sick and afflicted and ask that You heal them. We come with our rebellious and wayward and ask that You rescue them. We come with this Nation and ask You to raise up Statesmen and Heroes of Christian Faith to lead the people to repentance and forgiveness. I come with Israel asking for Her peace and for the subduing of all Her enemies and I ask, we ask, all these things in JESUS name.  amen and amen.

We have the God-given Right to do right in this wrong World,

Kathie

Guests

Go visiting

Gallery Leave a comment

with me today  to Heart 2 Heart. Below is an excerpt. When you have read here go THERE.

Today I Will Make A Difference


Such wisdom can be found reading any of Max Lucado’s books and I got this via email today. I had to share it because I believe someone else needs to hear it besides me. Enjoy!

Today I Will Make a Difference

Today I will make a difference. I will begin by controlling my thoughts. A person is the product of his thoughts. I want to be happy and hopeful. Therefore, I will have thoughts that are happy and hopeful. I refuse to be victimized by my circumstances. I will not let petty inconveniences such as stoplights, long lines, and traffic jams be my masters. I will avoid negativism and gossip. Optimism will be my companion, and victory will be my hallmark. Today I will make a difference.

Be sure to pop on over to Heart 2 Heart for the rest. And perhaps you will check out some other of Kat’s postings.

A brief update and I will call this a post for Monday.

Summer is going well. GRANDS and I are enjoying each others’ company. I’m not getting a lot of writing time as you are well aware; not doing a lot of reading either but I believe a lot of ‘spiritual gardening’ is going on. I believe Jesus in me is making a difference.

Please continue to keep up your praying for our PFT and for me, if you will. I have some ‘wonder if I should-s’ and some ‘could it be-s’ taking up some thought and prayer space. A prayer or two for me to clearly discern ABBA’s Will would not be wasted. Much JESUS love and thank you-s to you all.

We have the God-given Right to do right in this wrong World,