Category Archives: Assurance – Promise

Assurance - Promise, Christian Living, KWT Paraphrasing

Beauty! Give Me Some of That!

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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,

Assurance - Promise, Celebrations, Christian Living, You Tubes

The Long Way Home

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This played early this morning. I cried – worship tears. Hope you do too.

May have another word or two later today but if not this will surely carry us today. Our love to you all.

We have the God-given Right to do right in this wrong World,
Praying (PFT)!

Assurance - Promise, Christian Living

Boundary Lines

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5 Lord, You are my portion

and my cup of blessing;

You hold my future.

6 The boundary lines have fallen for me

in pleasant places;

indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

via Ps 16 HCSB – Psalm 16 Confidence in the LORD – A – Bible Gateway.

Boundary lines.

In pleasant places.

The boundary lines that GOD has drawn for those who love Him are in pleasant places.

Do you believe that today? Yes?

Then in this day you will have the JOY of His Presence.

11 You reveal the path of life to me;

in Your presence is abundant joy;

in Your right hand are eternal pleasures.

via Ps 16 HCSB – Psalm 16 Confidence in the LORD – A – Bible Gateway.

We see it written, ABBA, all we have to do is keep believing it until we actually experience it and we shall. For You, O LORD, always answer the prayers of Your People when we pray Your Word.  Thank You, ABBA. I rejoice in You this day and thank You for Your Presence with us in JESUS name.

We have the God-given Right to do right in this wrong World,
Praying (PFT)!

Assurance - Promise, KWT Paraphrasing

In The Midst

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Just a quick word for strength this morning.

Zephaniah 3:17 21st Century King James Version (KJ21)
17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing.”
via Zep 3:17 KJ21 – The LORD thy God in the midst of thee – Bible Gateway.

In the midst of traffic.
In the midst of uncooperative coworkers.
In the midst of piles of laundry.
In the midst of blank manuscript pages due to be written.
In the midst of yang-yang bickering siblings – child and adult :) .
In the midst of life altering illness.

In the midst of it all ABBA is with YOU. And HE is mighty. Mighty enough to bring you to the other side. Mighty enough that He can rejoice over you and what you will become because of this as you submit to His tutelage in this.  His mind is made up. He is not searching for new reasons to love you. He just does! He is pleased with CHRIST in YOU. You in CHRIST brings a smile to His Face and He sings. Over You.  Get that? Over YOU He sings!

Thank You, ABBA. For this Word and for singing.  We are beyond blessed to know that we can bring pleasure to You; that You smile; that You sing over us.  Thank You, JESUS, for making it happen! So for each One that comes here to read and pray today, may we embrace this truth and live this truth so this truth can be experienced by each of us. And for Israel, ABBA, we take Your command seriously and we pray for Her peace and for the subduing of Her enemies and for Your Kingdom to come. For the Church, send us revival, Father, revive us I pray in JESUS name. And for THESE we come asking that You heal our sick and afflicted and that you rescue and restore our rebellious. And, ABBA, as You will enlist us in Your Great Work for JESUS Name sake. Amen and amen.

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