Makeover Needed, Inside & Out

Honestly, sometimes I think I need Stacy and Clinton to help me pick out clothes. I say this to myself every time I stand in a dressing room trying on clothes. Maybe I need to nominate myself to appear on their show What Not to Wear. I can’t put together an outfit any better than a five year old. It’s quite obvious I need their help, but looking in their 360° mirror would be torturous! I can visualize it already, short and squatty legs that haven’t seen pants that fit in the rear as well as the waist – at the same time, in oh, so long.

Shoulder length hair that hasn’t been a salon in months, and lately I’ve noticed it’s starting to take on a dull brown/gray color. What would the hair stylist on the show think about it? He would probably want to cut it, color it, and highlight it. Basically, change its look entirely.

And, I would love for the make-up artist to teach me how to properly apply make-up to my middle-aged skin. I can’t get away with just blush and mascara anymore. How does one cover up these dark circles under the eyes? It would be nice to add a little life to this pale, dry skin while we’re at it. I’m not sure if it’s my imagination, but it seems that my chin is disappearing into my neck. I don’t think she has a trick for that.

If I turn around to see the view from the rear, then it’s very apparent that since I’m doing all this self-improving, maybe I should consider auditioning for the The Biggest Loser too! I could stand to lose a few pounds. Who am I kidding? I could lose a lot of extra pounds especially around the middle. That middle aged spread just doesn’t know where to stop. When was it that I moved from the Misses department to the Women’s sizes, anyway? I don’t know, but this dose of reality T.V. makeovers may be more than I can bear!

“Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.” (1 Peter3:3-4 NLT)

All too often I let my perception of my outward appearance control who I think I am or who I will continue to become. But God’s gentle words from I Peter, remind me that it’s what’s on the inside that matters the most to him. While that is no excuse to give up on my outward appearance, I do want my husband to look forward to coming home to me every day, it does remind me that beauty is only partially dependent on my outward appearance. Spending time cultivating a gentle and quiet spirit creates a beauty on the inside that can’t help but overflow and adorn the countenance of a woman who loves God.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Help me to remember that true beauty comes from within. This body is only temporary, and while I need to take care of it, its appearance does not dictate who I am. Your Word is what transforms me to be beautiful in your eyes. May I be infused with the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in your sight.

Not for wimps and curiosity seekers

Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.


Jesus said this when He and His disciples where in Bethany six days prior to the Passover Feast. They were having dinner at Lazarus' house, whom Jesus had just raised from the dead, and getting ready to enter Jerusalem the following day.

Now, a great crowd was following Christ because they had heard about Lazarus being raise from the dead and the Pharisees where fit to be tied because of all the attention that Jesus had attracted.


Some Greek men talked to Phillip and Andrew about meeting with Jesus. His reply was an explanation as to why He had to die. He also said "Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me"


At first this seems like an odd response to a request for a meeting, but after further observation Jesus' indirect answer is a message to them. Getting to know Him isn't for curiosity seekers and wimps. If you want to get to know me it's through serving me and following me

He goes on to say that He is "the light" and says the the light will only be with them a little while longer. "Put your trust in the light, so that you may become sons of light."


He is inviting them into relationship with Him. We don't know what the Greek men did, if they believed or not, but Jesus, true to His character, never misrepresents the cost of following Him. He also promises that His Father will honor those who serve Him.


Sometimes it's just downright uncomfortable to serve Christ. Following Him sometimes means that our own interests are not being catered to. It means that we will serve in areas that are unattractive, scary, and beyond our natural abilities. Jesus often went into areas that were unattractive and scary by society's standards.


We should not expect our lives, as believers to be any less difficult. We must follow where our Savior leads, for where he is His servants will also be.


This statement is folowed by a promise; maybe not in this life, but Jesus promised that God, His Father will honor those who serve Him.



Prayer: Dear hevenly Father,
Serving where you lead is not always easy, but you are my Savior and where you are I want to follow. Service here on earth may be done in dark places, shadowed by the pomp and circumstance of this world, but obedience in following where you lead shines like the noon day sun in the presence of God our Father.

Tis the Season....

I've been spending a lot of time outside in my flowerbeds and when I came across this scripture this morning I thought it very appropriate.

Preach the Word: be prepared in season and out of season: correct, rebuke, and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Timothy 4:2

In his letter to Timothy, Paul is giving him good and sound advice for his ministry. Reminding him to stay prepared. Never let time go by without seeking to renew and reaffirm his faith in Jesus Christ.

Knowing the truth is not enough, for even the truth gets stale if its not used and handled and mulled over constantly.

Paul was saying there will be seasons when you won't be as busy as other seasons, but don't relax your faith and get loose with your commitment.

Be ready at all times. You never know when God will bring an opportunity where he wants you to encourage someone, or offer a correct understanding or observation that has been filtered through fresh knowledge of the truth of God's Word.

How will you know when to rebuke if your spirit is not in tune with the Holy Spirit in order to offer it with great patience and careful instruction?

Spiritually speaking can you identify what season you are in right now? In season? Out of season? Winter, spring, summer, or fall?

I believe that I am experiencing an "out of season" summer.

The fruit I had been working toward producing all fall, winter, and spring, (along with some other really amazing people) has been harvested and all that is left is the dead dried remnants of our work. But, what looks like a dead season is actually a season of preparation for the one to come.

In my own flowerbeds it time to go about cleaning all the dead and dried foliage from the tulips and daffodils that bloomed earlier in the spring. Although they've bloomed months ago the foliage must be left until it is totally dried out and spent because the photosynthesis that takes place in its leave prepares the bulb to bloom next year. If I cut it back too soon, before they have completed their job there may be no flowers to enjoy next spring. It has to go through a fruitless season in order to bear its splendor next year.

What feels like an "out of season" time for me is what Paul is referring to the most I believe. Stay prepared by allowing the photosynthesis to happen compeletely, through the entire season. Exposure to the Son prepares the heart and soul for the season to come.


Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you that there are seasons where the work has been done and that there is nothing left to do but to bask in the sun and rain of your Word. Let every breath I breathe in of you flow into my soul and do your work to prepare me for the next season that will surely come.

What Are You Doing Here, Elijah?

Dear Friend,
Yesterday I posted the following devotion.
It is a roughly written piece to say the least. My intention was to give a little of Elijah's history so it would be clear to why he ended up where he did when God asked him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
I had it in mind to let it settle for a day and then go back to edit and fine tune what God had put on my heart, but when I opened the blog to edit this morning I found, to my surprise, that someone had already read the piece and commented on it.
So, as rough as it is, I'm going to leave it with the hope that God's word, which never returns void, will bless and encourage your heart.
Karen



And the Word of the Lord came to him and said: "What are you doing here, Elijah?
1 Kings 19:9

Elijah, the prophet, dropped into Israel's history "out of the clouds," some commentaries say. Even as a virtual unknown he somehow gained an audience with King Ahab and declared to him:

"As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the the next few years except at my word." 1 Kings 17:1

Elijah promptly high tailed it out of there and hid in the Kerith Ravine. He drank from a brook while God provided the ultimate take-out, delivered daily by ravens. When the brook dried up God sent him to a rustic bed and breakfast that was owned by a widow and her young son. While she only had enough flour and oil to prepare their last meal, God miraculously stretched the meager supplies for the remaining of the drought. When widow's son became seriously ill and died, Elijah's prayers brought him back to life.

After three years, God called Elijah to confront Ahab again. Elijah challenged Ahab to bring with him all the priests of Baal and they had a duel, so to speak. The gods of Baal vs. the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel.

When the priests of Baal failed to demonstrate their god had power, Elijah called fire down from heaven which consumed not only his sacrifice, but the alter, and the alter of Baal as well. All of the people who witnessed this demonstration fell on their faces and cried "The Lord - He is God!
Promptly, thereafter, Elijah went to Mount Carmel and prayed for rain and the rains came.

Ahab's wife Jezebel, enraged at Elijah, made an oath to see to his death.

Elijah fled.

After a forty day journey into the desert, we find Elijah camped out in a cave.

I love this pivotal point in Elijah's ministry.
It's not clear if he is seeking God or hiding from Jezebel. This is when God asks him that provocative question,

"What are you doing here, Elijah?

His response was "I've been zealous for you Lord" Now I feel very alone, I'm the only one left and there's a bounty on my head." (paraphrased)

The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by." God then demonstrated His power and control by causing a tornado type wind to rip through the valley; he caused an earthquake to shake the boulders loose from their settings, He brought a fire to consume everything Elijah could see, and then he whispered,

"What are you doing here, Elijah?"

Doesn't that just give you goose bumps? What a vivid picture! God, in essence was saying I am in control of what is happening Elijah. When I speak, what I want to happen happens, but moreover, Elijah, I love you with a gentle hand and I love my people.

I wonder what was going on in Elijah's head? Did he fear Jezebel's death threat? Was his solitude his attempt to get away from everything so he could clearly hear God? Was he trying to work it out in his head as to why his obedience resulted in fury from Jezebel rather than her compliance toward God? Maybe Elijah was saying in his heart, "Lord, I did what you said to do, but this not the results I was expecting."

God said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

The question made him face the battle in his heart and mind.

"What are you doing here, Elijah?" I still have things for you to do. There are seven thousand that have not bowed to Baal and I want you, Elijah, to lead them back to me.

This is such an awesome story and it causes me to ask myself this same question. What am I doing here in my present state of locality and self-reflection? Am I waiting, like Elijah was at the beginning of the story for God's direction, or am I hiding - afraid of where God will lead me next?
Whatever my reason for being here, God's response is the same "Don't get too comfortable, you'll be moving on."

Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank you for allowing seasons of rest. Please help me keep my heart and mind open to hear you clearly when you tell me it's time to move on.
Amen

God's Armor, A Perfect Fit

"Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of god so that you can take your stand..." Ephesians 6:10

I love this familiar scripture! It's such a beautiful portrayal of God's protection over us - His love and power visualized as a full suit of armor. I especially love it when it's viewed in light of what Paul says later in his letter to the Corinthians.

"Therefore I am well content with weakness, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." 2Corinthians 12:10

Paul, in essence is teaching that when he is weak the Armor of God is there to protect him. The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the gospel of peace, the shield of faith in one hand and the sword of the spirit in the other, the helmet of salvation firmly in place.

Do you ever have those times in life when you feel very weak, like you just can't take another step? When what's behind you is a blur of busyness and what's in front of you is so monumental you can't focus on any one thing. When you just want to crawl into bed and wish everything away. Or, perhaps, like me after a very busy season the thought of solitude sounds so very sweet.

What sends us to those places? Paul said that God gave him a thorn in his flesh to keep him from becoming conceited because of the surprisingly great revelations that god had given him. While I know that God has not given me any great revelations, I sense that after a while of things going well, sometimes God allows a time of humbleness so that I won't become prideful in my own strength and abilities.

God's spiritual armor doesn't fit well when I am already wearing the armor of pride or self-reliance. Remember when David put on king Saul's armor it was bulky and cumbersome and was more to his detriment than to his protection.

When I come to the end of myself and there is not one ounce of pride left in me, that is when I can fully put on the Armor of God with its most perfect fit.

Be strong in the Lord and His mighty power....for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for bringing those times when I see my weakness fully and boldly, for that's when you wrap me up and fortify me in your most perfect fitting armor.

Today begins a new day for me. For some time now God has been impressing on my heart to post a weekly devotion on the blog site. I have procrastinated, fought against it, and have even defied His instruction. But, God is patient He has given me another push toward this path and so here I am. What I share with you here is raw unedited thoughts from my heart. You will see the cracks in my character, and the flaws of my faith as I am a work in progress. Hopefully, I can pen into words some of the same struggles that perhaps you have too. So, here we go ...to the glory of God.

Mark 4:39 "He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ' "Quiet! Be still!"' Then the wind died down and it was completely calm."

Jesus, along with His disciples and a few others set sail in their boats to cross over to the other side of the lake. A furious squall came up and waves were breaking over the bow and nearly swamped the boats. (Yes, boats. I never noticed this before, there was more than one boat). Jesus was asleep in the stern when his disciples woke him, they said "Don't you care if we drown?" He got up rebuked the wind and said "Quite! Be still!" The wind and waves obeyed and it became completely calm. He said to his disciples "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

We all have storms in our lives that sometimes feel like they are crashing over us. Wave upon wave lifts and drops our emotions, and we wonder if God really cares about the tension that's mounting. I don't know about you, but more likely than not I respond just like the disciples reacted, only when the storm conditions hit the pivotal point - certain death and and the very least despair - finally I initiate a conversation with Jesus.

Why did the disciples wait so long to go to him? Did they really think He was not aware of the situation? Was He really asleep in a boat full of water? The scripture says the waves were crashing over the bow more than likely landing squarely in the stern of the boat were Jesus was.

I believe He knew what was going on. He knew the storm had to ability to capsize their boats and the very fact that they were in the middle of the lake surely left no hope of swimming to shore. Jesus wanted His disciples to ask Him to save them. Only when their will and hope was completely surrendered did he say "Quiet! Be still!" And the storm subsided.

Dear Heavenly Father,
May I surrender at the first wisp of wind and the first drop of rain. Lord, I pray that it won't take a hurricane to bring me to you. Help me to remember it's only in you that I can find refuge and experience calm in the midst of my sometimes stormy life.

Proverbs 31 Woman A Modern Translation

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

A good wife is like an army force of one.

Her invaluable special-forces training give her the ability to accomplish phenomenal tasks,

i.e., extreme multi-tasking, seeing things from the eyes on the back of her head,

hearing what children are thinking, and leaping tall piles of laundry in a single bound,

all while text messaging and checking email.

Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.

Her husband totally loves it when she goes to the grocery store with a list,

especially when she takes her shoebox of coupons and not only saves money,

but comes home with a refund.

She brings him good not harm all the days of her life.

She refrains from socking him when he is gassy in public

and is committed to being with him all the days of her life

even when he wears a plaid flannel shirt out to dinner.

She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.

She belongs to the sock of the month club

and knits a new pair of socks for every major holiday.

She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.

Let’s just face it, she loves to go shopping

and will travel fifty miles to the nearest Sam’s Club.

She gets up while it is still dark and she provides food for her family

and portions for her servant girls.

When the baby wakes up at four in the morning she shuffles into the kitchen

and fixes his bottle and mindfully remembers to take the meat out of the freezer for dinner.

Her servants: the dishwasher, stove, refrigerator, washer and dryer

don’t eat, well, the washer and dryer eat socks, but she'll fed them later; so she goes back to bed.
She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

She takes a class at the local community college

and learns how to make a few extra bucks on e-bay; out of her earnings she starts her own business called

“Let Me Sell Your Stuff on E-bay”

She sets about her work vigorously;her arms are strong for her tasks.

She runs around the house picking up after her family members;

her arms are strong from moving the furniture while searching for lost items

like shoes, keys, wallets, and cell phones.

She sees that her trading is profitable

and her lamp does not go out at night.

After she receives her first check from her e-bay sales,

she stays up all night posting new items on her website.

In her hand she holds the distaff

and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

In her hand she holds her laptop

and with her fingers she both left and right-clicks as she peruses

the world wide web for good deals on clothing and home decor.

She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.

She makes and takes a meal,

albeit macaroni and cheese from a box, salad from a bag,

spam from a can, and rolls from the freezer to a sick friend;

on her way she drops off a bag full of clothes at the Good-Will store.

When it snows, she has no fear for her household;

for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

While at the Good-Will store it begins to snow,

but she has no fear for she has found nice matching scarlet sweaters for all her children.

She makes coverings for her bed;

she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

From the matching sweaters that her kids refuse to wear,

she makes a wool quilt while wearing the beautiful purple linen pant suit

she found while shopping at Good-Will.

Her husband is respected at the city gate,

where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

Everyone yells “Hi Joe” when her husband enters the hardware store

and takes his place among the men at the coffee pot

discussing the lofty topics of politics, and sports.

She makes linen garments and sells them,

and supplies the merchants with sashes.

She re-designs t-shirts and sells them at craft fairs,

and the other crafters go nuts for her crocheted scarves.

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.

She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

She doesn’t fear getting older because, for one, it doesn’t do any good

and it gives her worry lines that make her look even older;

and two, strength, dignity, and wisdom simply mean

that she has been around the block enough times

to know her own faults and limitations and isn’t afraid to admit them.

She watches over the affairs of her household

She keeps up the master planner complete with every scheduled doctor’s appointment,

soccer game, dance class, grocery list, menu, immunization record,

shoe/shirt/pant/dress size of her entire family, address book,

emergency contact numbers, bible study notes, dental x-rays,

record of the last oil change, birthday card list, sermon notes,

recipe cards to hand out at choir practice, and

the words to that song no one could remember on the last long car ride.

She does not eat the bread of idleness.

She has a Wii game center so that when bored she can bowl, play tennis,

race cars, or kick-box her way out of the dull-drums into a force to be reckoned with.

Her children arise and call her blessed

Her children kiss her on the cheek in the morning and say

“Thank you, thank you, thank you. You remembered to dry my clothes.”

Her husband also, and he praises her.

“You’ve ironed my shirt and made my lunch for two days in a row. How did I get such a wonderful wife? Honey, you’re the best!”

Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.

Martha Washington, Mother Teresa, Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony

and Barbara Bush are famous noble women in history, but you…
You do the noblest things like,

kiss boo boos, change diapers, and make your husband laugh.

You get up every morning and give your heart to the lives of your family.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Any woman can talk a good game and look beautiful in her twenties,

but what really counts is the beauty that rises out of making good choices,

putting others first and loving God with all your heart, soul, and strength.

Give her the reward she has earned

Seriously, let her take a long luxurious bubble bath,

followed by a two hour nap, her favorite book and movie

and don’t forget to bring in a tray of chocolates and herbal tea,

while she gets a mani-pedi.

And let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Let her enter her living room by way of the red carpet

while cheering loudly, hugging her tightly,

and telling her she is wonderfully beautiful,

it looks like she’s lost weight,

and that she smells nice too.