White Shirt

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

Power Washing

The Summer is passing quickly. And ABBA is answering many prayers. The GRANDS and I are enjoying each others company and we each are learning from the other. It’s good! I do miss gathering here at The White Stone as often as before.  But I am so glad to be here today. 🙂

As I write, it is a rainy late Saturday afternoon, a load of laundry is washing beyond the wall to my left; and alternative dinner plans seem to be in our future. As accommodating and willing to please as hubby is I don’t believe he will be inclined to grill in this downpour – neither would I be willing for him to do so.

He’s been using afternoons this week to power wash the back deck and I wish I had thought to take a before picture. I do have an after. As I was watching from the window (prior to the rain) as he was working on the last part I marveled at the power of water to clean. And you know what came next don’t you?

The washing of the Water of the Word.

Ephesians 5:25-27 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
via Ephesians 5:25-27 NASB – Husbands, love your wives, just as – Bible Gateway.

I went looking and found a before; actually this was taken in the Spring of 2011; however, it gives some idea of how dark the wood had become.  And to the right here? Well that’s after washing – power washing!

From experience and from the Word I can testify to you that an even more drastic change occurs in the life of a Soul who has been power washed by the Water of the Word. 

Prior to applying the water my beloved applied a cleaner especially designed to lift the stains from the wood; without any disrespect the analogy is the BLOOD of JESUS – designed to lift and take away every sin, every stain of every Soul who will repent and trust Him. Next when we submit ourselves to JESUS on a daily basis those dark stains that had been so stubborn and so easy to ‘practice’ before are now no match for the power of the HOLY SPIRIT as He applies the Water of the Word.  

Anyway that’s just what came to mind – thought I’d share it with you.

Find your way to a House of Bible Practicing Worship tomorrow and get plugged in for some washing.  🙂

Thank You, ABBA, for lessons in everyday things. Thank You for Your Goodness and Mercy. For forgiveness and the washing away of every sin and stain and for saving us now from the practice of sin day by day. I pray that each one who comes here to read and pray today will worship You in spirit and in truth, not only today but corporately tomorrow with brothers and sisters of Christian Faith and I pray our worship will be such that You will be pleased and will inhabit our praise. Thank You, LORD JESUS. Amen and amen.

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