We interrupt my irregularly-scheduled blog to bring you this fabulous news from Proverbs 31 Ministries!
The "She Speaks 2012 Conference" registration is up and ready! For all you aspiring writers, speakers, bloggers, women's ministry leaders...heck (oops!) women with a voice, here's an opportunity to learn from and connect with other women who "get you!"
Click the link above and read what I can only testify as a life-changing experience for anyone who's trusting God to "walk by faith and not by sight!" You will not regret it. I did four years ago (and every year since) and I hope you will too so I can meet you in Concord, North Carolina.
Blessings and now back to my passion of Embracing God's Truth. Thanks for journeying with me!
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
IN THE WAITING...THE (FINAL) ACCESSORIES
Ladies, I want to be very sensitive here because not every reader can boast a fairytale past. Some daughters have dreamed of glamour sessions with their mom where bobbles dangled from earlobes and frilly things hung from necklines. Giggles emerged from floppy hats and oversized heels as the little girl parades down an imaginary runway to the pattern of a drunkard’s path quilt. Adorned to the nines and lookin’ mighty fine, this daughter radiates beauty.
At first glance, she may appear undersized in her mother’s accessories, but imagine if you will, the grand purpose behind the imagery – she has much to become. To grow into the depth, the height, the measure of her true self turns that glamorous fairytale into reality. Her past does not adorn her with objects labeled "victim," "reject," "throwaway," "worthless." In the waiting, this becoming daughter of God grows from her past and chooses to accessorize herself in His truth.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3:12-14).
"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6)
It took awhile to write this final installment, because I knew God wanted to “accessorize” us in priceless treasures, not worthless junk. But how do you say that? How do you convince someone to believe not necessarily in themselves, but in what God sees in and through them? Concepts like leading a horse to water or feeding a person a fish teaches only so much before it borders the line of being just another cliché. God didn’t create us as horses and we’re hungry and thirsty for more than water and fish, aren’t we?
Life “in the waiting” is all about wearing the right gear (designer label WisdomWear, but you know it as the “whole armor of God”). It’s about wearing the beauty of God’s truth in our countenance and allowing it to radiate in and through us much like that anticipated bride. And in the waiting, we have a counselor who teaches us how to live well, act right, love fully, pray continually, forgive quickly, give freely, and well, you get the picture.
I can see myself coming back to this theme down the road. Be encouraged. I know I am. Because in the waiting (and it bears repeating, though I know I ended my last posting with the same passage)…
"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6)
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
IN THE WAITING...GETTING FITTED
For a bride, the right dress makes the occasion special. Stunning comes to mind as she desires for her flawless, flowing outfit to capture her groomsman lover’s heart on that big day. So making sure it fits requires constant trips to the seamstress, but more on that in a minute.
In the last entry, we suited up with the whole armor of God – belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, feet covered in the readiness of the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit. Doesn’t sound like the perfect betrothal garment you typically see sporting down the aisle, right? If I had to visualize the look, olive-drab, army fatigues come to mind, not a soft chiffon or satin gown.
Well, consider those pieces WisdomWear, the spiritual undergarments, if you will. Before we chose to give our hearts to Christ, sin dressed us and if you remember life before a Savior, sin covered nothing. The Lover of our souls offered us a proposal of eternal life and a “garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…” (Isaiah 61:3).
With the accepted proposal, the fitting process replaces a sin-drenched, tattered frock for a garment of purity. For some of us, that process teeters on exhilaration and anxiety. Excited over the change in wardrobe; daunted by our past wardrobe malfunctions:
“How can you love a sinner like me?”
He reiterates His love, and though our groomsman lover must leave us for a season to make preparations, His Word comforts us in the waiting…
"...Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow..." (Isaiah 1:18).
He understands our angst in the wait. That’s why I believe our betrothed appointed a Sanctified (fancy word for “set apart”) Seamstress, to shoulder the responsibility of fitting us for the perfect day until He returns. We know Him formally as the Holy Spirit and in the waiting…
"...the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you" (John 14:26).
The Holy Spirit has a vested interest in our fitting as well and welcomes His role wholeheartedly. He gently reminds us when issuing instructions. He lovingly reprimands us when there is a need to dispense correction. He also tenderly offers comfort when we confess our shortcomings. He measures, tapers, cuts away, sizes and resizes the spiritual gusset in the ill-fitting areas of our lives until truth can be adorned from this…
"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6).
In the last entry, we suited up with the whole armor of God – belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, feet covered in the readiness of the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit. Doesn’t sound like the perfect betrothal garment you typically see sporting down the aisle, right? If I had to visualize the look, olive-drab, army fatigues come to mind, not a soft chiffon or satin gown.
Well, consider those pieces WisdomWear, the spiritual undergarments, if you will. Before we chose to give our hearts to Christ, sin dressed us and if you remember life before a Savior, sin covered nothing. The Lover of our souls offered us a proposal of eternal life and a “garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…” (Isaiah 61:3).
With the accepted proposal, the fitting process replaces a sin-drenched, tattered frock for a garment of purity. For some of us, that process teeters on exhilaration and anxiety. Excited over the change in wardrobe; daunted by our past wardrobe malfunctions:
“How can you love a sinner like me?”
“I’m so prone to messing things up, Lord. Are You sure You want me?”
He reiterates His love, and though our groomsman lover must leave us for a season to make preparations, His Word comforts us in the waiting…
"...Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow..." (Isaiah 1:18).
He understands our angst in the wait. That’s why I believe our betrothed appointed a Sanctified (fancy word for “set apart”) Seamstress, to shoulder the responsibility of fitting us for the perfect day until He returns. We know Him formally as the Holy Spirit and in the waiting…
"...the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you" (John 14:26).
The Holy Spirit has a vested interest in our fitting as well and welcomes His role wholeheartedly. He gently reminds us when issuing instructions. He lovingly reprimands us when there is a need to dispense correction. He also tenderly offers comfort when we confess our shortcomings. He measures, tapers, cuts away, sizes and resizes the spiritual gusset in the ill-fitting areas of our lives until truth can be adorned from this…
"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6).
Next step…Defining a few accessories
Monday, February 6, 2012
IN THE WAITING...BEAUTIFUL BRIDE
With your whole armor in place, can I say, “dahling, you look mahvalous!” (poor Billy Crystal character impersonation, I know). In the waiting, consider this time akin to the preparation for your wedding ceremony. A million to do’s make a bride’s list prior to the big day. And whether you have experienced this type of occasion first hand or not, you can certainly imagine its importance.
Can’t have a wedding ceremony without the groomsman lover, right? And in the waiting, the one who courts your soul woos and whispers sweetly these words…
“How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes are doves” (Song of Songs 1:15).
Let that sink in. Yet from heaven’s great throne, this call and answer emerges from the recesses of your heart: “YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!” “But, I’m unattractive.” “YOU ARE PRICELESS!” “But, I’m worthless.” “YOU ARE LOVELY!” “But, I’m unlovable.” “YOU ARE WORTHY!” “But, I’m useless.” “YOU ARE PRECIOUS!” “But, I’m of no value.” “YOU ARE TO ME!” Can you hear the reverberation of lies? How they entwine within the trail of truth you have long wanted to escape. The past is past; nothing can change it; but if you are thinking can you ever replace the tattered clothes of the past for pure, sacred garments, a captivated groomsman lover knows better.
He says you can...through repentance. And it is in this waiting period eyes open to the depths your betrothed has gone through to ransom you to Himself. He fashioned a rugged cross into a banqueting table, a bloodied shroud into a robe of white, a lost and hopeless past into a bright and promising future. His sacrificial act of love fulfilled these words of life abandoned brides to-be have waited to hear...
“But now, this is what the LORD says – he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine” (Isaiah 46:1).
You are His! Beautiful… priceless… worthy! And everything He says about you is 100% accurate! “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).
Next step: Getting fitted...
Can’t have a wedding ceremony without the groomsman lover, right? And in the waiting, the one who courts your soul woos and whispers sweetly these words…
“How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes are doves” (Song of Songs 1:15).
Let that sink in. Yet from heaven’s great throne, this call and answer emerges from the recesses of your heart: “YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!” “But, I’m unattractive.” “YOU ARE PRICELESS!” “But, I’m worthless.” “YOU ARE LOVELY!” “But, I’m unlovable.” “YOU ARE WORTHY!” “But, I’m useless.” “YOU ARE PRECIOUS!” “But, I’m of no value.” “YOU ARE TO ME!” Can you hear the reverberation of lies? How they entwine within the trail of truth you have long wanted to escape. The past is past; nothing can change it; but if you are thinking can you ever replace the tattered clothes of the past for pure, sacred garments, a captivated groomsman lover knows better.
He says you can...through repentance. And it is in this waiting period eyes open to the depths your betrothed has gone through to ransom you to Himself. He fashioned a rugged cross into a banqueting table, a bloodied shroud into a robe of white, a lost and hopeless past into a bright and promising future. His sacrificial act of love fulfilled these words of life abandoned brides to-be have waited to hear...
“But now, this is what the LORD says – he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine” (Isaiah 46:1).
You are His! Beautiful… priceless… worthy! And everything He says about you is 100% accurate! “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).
Next step: Getting fitted...
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| Photo taken by Pamela Velez - 1iStudios en Theos |
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