Good Clothing - Part 1

What are you wearing right now?  I’m wearing an orange Mission to the World shirt from a past mission trip and brown shorts.  Now I ask again…what are you REALLY wearing?  You’re probably thinking – “Okay, maybe this is a post I need to skip if you're going to talk about clothes.”  But seriously, don’t leave yet!  I can’t stand clothes shopping and all that stuff so you don’t need to worry!  *smile*

My question is:  What type of spiritual clothing are you wearing?  I’ve never really cared about clothes and I think I’ve still got some shirts from college that I wear almost every week.  Is that bad?  haha  I could never really be labeled as a fashionable person and that has never bothered me.  But when it comes to spiritual clothes – I want to be wearing the best and look the best.  I want to be as well-dressed as I can possibly be.  Anybody know a good store for spiritual clothing?  I doubt Kohl’s would have anything, huh?

I’ve been thinking about my spiritual clothing ever since our Bible study on Thursday night which has been focusing on Everyday Christian Living.  I learned that there are 3 layers of clothes that we, as Christians, are supposed to be wearing each day.  So, I thought I’d unload each one in a separate post to do two things.  First, I’ve wanted to think on them more and understand them better myself – and I always think better through my fingers.  Second, I wanted to give you the chance to think on them and perhaps check out the type of clothing that you’ve been wearing.  I know my clothing needs a bit of freshening up – so don’t be discouraged if you find that to be the case!

So, the first layer of Christ-like clothing is…

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,”  Colossians 3:12

 There you have it – the clothing that will help make you the best dressed Christian around!  But what does that mean?  How can I be clothed in compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience?  To be clothed in compassion means that we should be considerate and concerned for the welfare of other people.  We should actually care about how a person feels and our hearts should yearn to care for that person.  In case you’re wondering, the opposite of compassion is coldness.  So if you catch yourself feeling cold – be sure you change your clothes quickly!

To be clothed in kindness means to be nice!  That’s easy!  But sometimes kindness looks a bit different.  Kindness means more than just being nice.  It means being “Christian nice” – which means that we show kindness in the face of cruelty (which by the way, is the opposite of kindness).  It’s easy to be nice to the nice people – but it’s hard to show kindness or compassion to the people who like to attack you.  But – kind is what we must be anyway!

Clothed in humility is the exact opposite of arrogance.  That might be the easiest answer.  An arrogant person insists on always being right, always having things their own way, and never backing down.  So, don’t always insist on being right, don’t always have things your way, and be willing to walk away.  Being humble means that we’re not going to participate in the arrogant person’s game.  Don't continue discussing something if you realize that it's only going to cause more trouble or more friction - just walk away and leave it alone.  Showing humility can diffuse many fires of arrogance.  And women – another great way to be humble is to dress with MODESTY!  My mama taught me well when it came to this.  Don’t wear clothing that will encourage men to lust after us – what’s the point?  Our beauty should be the “imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.”  1 Peter 3:4  Any man worth getting to know will want to look deeper than skin-deep – so be humble about clothing!

Being clothed in meekness means to be yielding and submissive.  Our personality shouldn’t be domineering or over-bearing to others (the opposite of meek).  Our speech should be soft and loving.  We should submit to the authority of our husbands and others that God has placed in authority over us. 

“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.”  Ephesians 5:22

“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.”  Hebrews 13:17

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”  Romans 13:1

There is no room in our Christian life for proud and assertive behavior when it comes to those whom God has placed in authority over us.

To be clothed in patience is to show endurance in suffering.  To be persistent in a loving way.  Patience means to be tolerant of the small things – like a flat tire, a dead battery, a burnt supper, an annoying person, a long wait at the doctor's office, a family of ducks crossing the road – and to tolerate these things without complaint.  Don’t get irritated easily, which is the exact opposite of patience.  The staying power of patience is a tough thing to learn – and I know that I’m still working on this one, for sure!

So, these traits are the first layer of clothing that God requires us to put on.  As Christ-followers, it isn’t going to be easy to wear these clothes.  If you live on the same planet that I do – then you’re going to have plenty of chances to practice the “putting on” of these clothes.  Just think about it.  How many times today have you had the chance to be compassionate, kind, humble, meek, and patient?  I can easily think of an example for each of these, just from today.

I encourage you, from one Christ-follower to another – focus on getting dressed up for the next few days with the right clothing.  And no, Kohl’s doesn’t have it – but your Bible does.  So, pick it up and read it – and you’ll find clothing selections like you never imagined!  Now that’s my kind of shopping!

Melissa

Rejoice?

“Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again:  Rejoice!”  This is the beginning of Philippians 4:4.  We read it this morning in our worship services.  These verses used to be my favorite and so I listened closely.  And I saw that I haven’t rejoiced much lately.

This last little while, I’ve found it easier to count my “non-blessings” than my blessings – especially this last week.  It marked what should have been a very joyful time for me and Shawn.  We would have celebrated the first birthday of our first child – but God in His infinite wisdom ordained for that child to never live on this earth.  Sometimes, I question God and His judgments.  I wonder why He thought it best to take a child from us – a couple who can’t WAIT to have children.  And since that time, there has been no sign of His answer – at least not in the way that I would have Him answer.  Instead, His answer is:  “Wait and rejoice”. 

Philippians goes on to say, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

So, there it is.  When we are anxious or worried about something, we are supposed to take it to God through prayer AND thanksgiving, and give our concerns to Him.  But He doesn’t promise to just give us what we want after we’ve done all of that – in my case, children.  He promises to give us peace.  The kind of peace that we don’t even understand.  Have you ever experienced that kind of peace? 

So, I’m seeking to find my source of rejoicing in that peace that surpasses all understanding.  And I’m seeking to readjust my mind – and think of the things that are GOOD for me.  Philippians 4:8 tells me exactly what to think about.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things." 

What is true?  I’m a dirty, rotten sinner.  1 Timothy 1:15 says, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance – Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst.”

What is noble?  I am blessed to be married to a noble man.  I think of Isaiah 32:8 which says, “But the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands.”  Shawn is a good, strong Christian man who leads me to a closer walk with my Savior and stands between me and the “un-noble” things in this world.

What is right?  Humility.  Matthew 6:3 says, “…do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” 

What is pure?  A clean heart.  Psalm 51:10 says, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit in me.”

What is lovely?  A woman who fears the Lord.  Proverbs 31:30 says, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

What is admirable?  Rahab’s faith.  In Joshua 2:9, Rahab says, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us.”  In the face of destruction, she turned to God.

What is excellent or praiseworthy?  Hannah’s faith.  In 1 Samuel 2:11, Hannah prays, “O Lord of hosts, if you will … give your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life.”

 

Think about such things…. 

In other words, stop looking at what you don’t have and start counting your blessings.  It’s hard and sometimes I don’t want to do it.  But that does me no good – dwelling on those thoughts.  So, I’m going to strive to think of the things listed above that are so good for me.  Will you join me in changing the thoughts of the heart?

~ Melissa

What is Home?

Shawn and I spent last week in Illinois visiting our families and friends.  I could hardly contain my excitement when we began the journey home.  There are so many people that I’ve missed and so many things that have happened since the last time I was there!  I want to make the most of every minute I’m there – and I usually come back to Iowa exhausted, but happy! 

Our week in Illinois was great!  But I found myself thinking about everyone in Iowa quite a bit while I was home.  I wonder what’s going on and how people are doing.  I wonder how the church members are doing who are suffering.  I wonder if the church family who were ill are healthy again and wonder how they are feeling.  I think of the sweet smiles of the church people whom I greet each Sunday and as I think about them, I smile without even knowing it.  I remember one couple who reminded us to take our map with us to Illinois so we made sure to find our way back to Iowa.  I wonder how the crops are doing and if we got any rain.  I wonder how many weeds are growing in my garden!  I think of all these things and I am filled with love for the people of Iowa.

 

But when I’m in Iowa, I miss everyone in Illinois.  I think about what my parents and siblings might be doing.  I wonder how my mother- and father-in-law are doing.  I wonder how my sweet nephews and nieces are doing and wish I could spend just a few minutes with them to tell them again how much I love them.  I think of my Grandma Boyce who is still going strong in her 70’s.  I think of my Grandma Rapp whom I missed seeing this last time I was home and wonder how much she’ll be able to remember about me when I see her next.  I think of my Bethel family and wonder if the pain of missing them will ever really go away.  I think of all these things and I am filled with love for the people of Illinois.

I’ve been thinking a lot since returning to Iowa – how does a person manage to NOT experience a torn heart when they feel at home in two different places.  When I’m in one place – I miss the other.  I have come to the conclusion that I can’t repair my torn heart because I don’t want to.  I will always be from Southern Illinois and I will always consider myself a bit of a “hick”!  But now, I will always have Iowa in my heart, too.  I have experienced growth through new friendships that I never imagined possible.  So, my conclusion is – don’t fix what isn’t broken.  I call myself blessed to have two homes that I love.  And no matter which direction I am traveling home – I will always have someone and something to look forward to.

Although ultimately, I know that I will always be torn until I reach my real Home.  I think that for a follower of Christ, there HAS to be a sort of unrest about the life being lived here and now.  We won’t be here forever.  As one of my favorite songs says,

On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand, and cast a wishful eye.

To Canaan’s fair and happy land, where my possessions lie.

            I am bound, I am bound, I am bound for the Promised Land!

 

I love my Illinois home.  I love my Iowa home.  But more than both of these, I love my eternal Home and I can’t wait to get there!  Sometimes, it’s easy for me to cling to the homes I have here on this earth – but it’s so wrong for me to do that.  It’s my prayer that I will remain faithful until I reach HOME.  So I ask you – where is your home?

Holy of Holies

I am so glad that I didn’t have to live my life as an Israelite in Old Testament times.  I’m glad I didn’t have to eat manna, wander in the desert for 40 years, tear down my home each morning and rebuild it each night, or sacrifice animals.  I just don’t think I would be cut out for life as an Israelite woman!

But there is one thing that I would have liked to see – IF I had actually been an Israelite…and that is the Ark of the Covenant.  Oh sure, we’ve all seen Raiders of the Lost Ark with Indiana Jones but is that really what the Ark looked like?  Doubtful – as a matter of fact, I’m convinced that it was ten times cooler!

I was never really fascinated with the Ark of the Covenant until I was in college.  Before that, I just thought it was a nice, shiny box that the priests had to carry around for 40 years on their shoulders.  When I actually realized what it was, I was blown away!

This “box” was the representation of the Lord’s presence to the Israelite tribes.  This “box” contained the Book of the Law.  This “box” was the mercy seat upon which God would descend to the Israelites.  This “box” was not even allowed to be TOUCHED by the people because of its holiness!  It was kept in the innermost place of the tabernacle and was off limits to everyone except the high priest…and he only went in once a year.  This innermost place was the Holy of Holies.  The most holy place in the entire Israelite camp because it was where God’s presence descended upon Israel.

Fast forward a few thousand years and remember the night of Jesus’ crucifixion.  When Jesus died, the curtain of the temple was torn in two.  The curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (aka:  Holy of Holies) was torn in two from top to bottom.  There was no longer any separation between us and God – Jesus had eliminated that with His ultimate sacrifice.  Before Jesus’ death, the people brought their sacrifices and offerings to the priests to be presented to God.  After Jesus’ death, we are able to go directly to our God through prayer – and He actually hears us!  We don’t have to make sacrifices because Jesus was THE sacrifice – and that requirement was fulfilled in Him.

Imagine being an Israelite and longing to enter into God’s presence but being banned from the Holy of Holies.  Thankfully, I can’t imagine that because I have always been able to go directly to my God.  With the separation gone, why wouldn’t we take advantage of this awesome opportunity to commune with our Lord?  I love the song called “Take Me In” by Kutless (?).  I was reminded of the significance of this song tonight as I spoke with a dear Christian friend.  The words ring so true in my heart and I am convicted of restraining myself from entering the most holy of places to be in the presence of my Lord.  I need to HUNGER and THIRST for His righteousness – and there’s only one place to find it!  There is nothing stopping us, so why don’t we just go right in to the Holy of Holies?

Melissa

Follow this link to hear the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgTNXqXdsNA&feature=fvwre

Take me past the outer courts
Into the Holy Place
Past the brazen altar
Lord I want to see your face
Pass me by the crowds of people
And the Priests who sing your praise
I hunger and thirst for your righteousness
But it's only found in one place

[Chorus:]
Take me into the holy of holies
Take me in by the blood of the lamb
Take me into the holy of holies
Take the coal, touch my lips, here I am

Love in Any Language

I’ve been on a Sandi Patty kick lately – feel free to roll your eyes!  I remember listening to her when I was younger.  My sister and I would pop in her music while doing housework and try to hit the high notes.  Needless to say, I never got there…  There’s one song she sang that has stuck with me, almost word for word, for all these years - “Love in Any Language”.  This song is so incredibly powerful and so terribly convicting…

I listened to this song again today and really evaluated the way I love people.  What does it really mean to love…not just to show love, but to speak love.  Showing love is easy – smile at a stranger, open the door for someone, send flowers, give a hug.  But to speak love – what does that look like?

I’ve been thinking a lot about that and I think that to speak love means that you have to be willing to actually SPEAK!  Sounds obvious, but think about it.  How many times do we give the polite smile to a stranger or kindly wave to someone as we pass by?  I know I’m guilty.  What if I actually went up to the person and spoke?  It doesn’t have to be some deep Christian conversation.  Just something simple like, “So, how are you today?” 

I went to a Southern Gospel concert on Sunday night.  The main singer said something very powerful – “You might be the only Christian influence a person sees today, so don’t waste it.”  Wow!  So, when I’m pushing my cart through the grocery store and really just want to get out of there – maybe I can smile and tell someone to go ahead of me in line.  Maybe when I’m beyond tired and just want to sit and watch TV – I can stop and talk to my husband instead.  Such simple things that are so hard to do!

But my thinking didn’t stop there.  The whole idea of the song is to love people who are different from me.  Love can break down any wall, any barrier.  I believe that we as Christians have failed in this area.  We’ve let racial barriers, language barriers, social class barriers, educational barriers, religious barriers stop us from loving people – and we’ve taken the easy way out by just branding some people as “unlovable”.  Think about it.  How many times have we politely smiled at someone and then rolled our eyes as we walked away thinking, “Poor schmuck!  He’s a mess.  I can’t believe someone could

                                                        live like that!”  We are ALL guilty of it, myself included.

In Sandi Patty’s song, she sings:

          Love in any language
          Straight from the heart
          Pulls us all together
          Never apart
          And once we learn to speak it
          All the world will hear
          Love in any language
          Fluently spoken here

Our love for Christ should overflow into love for others – all others!  It should pull us together, not apart!  Love should be spoken fluently everywhere in this world – but instead we see judgment and condemnation.  As Christians, we should be in the business of showing people how much we have in common and how precious that is…easier said than done!

          We teach the young our differences
          Yet look how we're the same
          We love to laugh, to dream our dreams
          We know the sting of pain

          Oh maybe when we realize
          Just how much there is to share
          We'll find too much in common
          To pretend it isn't there

          Though the rhetoric of government
          May keep us worlds apart
          There's no misinterpreting
          The language of the heart

              

Just like the last part of the song says – there is no misinterpreting the language of the heart.  Let me challenge you today to look at your own heart.  Ask yourself what language your heart is speaking.  When I looked at my heart today, I realized that I don’t always do the greatest job of loving.  I’m often not very good at loving the unlovable.  So today, I challenge each of us to speak love – especially to the “unlovable”!  Why??? Because there are many days when I am the unlovable and Christ loves me anyway.  So, love the unlovable and when people watch us in our Christian life, they can say, “Yes, love is fluently spoken here” – to the glory and praise of God! 

I’m still new to blogging and don’t know how to attach links to songs.  Look up the song at this website.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Md0dTgNpGq0  It is unbelievably awesome!!!  Enjoy!

Melissa

I Don't Belong Here

Have you ever just wanted to be done with this life and in the arms of Jesus?  Have you ever wondered how to live in a world with such pain and hurt?  Think about the violence, the hate, the abuse, the sadness.  It can make even the happiest person discouraged!  I often struggle with the wrongs of this world and wonder when it will end.

The other day I read a blog post from a good friend.  Jenny lives in Georgia and is a sweet and wonderful woman of God.  Her post was so good that I got permission from her to snag a piece and use it here.  I can’t say this any better myself than how she has already said it.  Jenny encouraged me to look forward to the day when God will make everything new.   

She quoted Revelation 21:1-5.  Here it is:

  

“Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”  He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Did you hear that?  One day, God will make everything new!  Everything!  All of the violence, hate, abuse, sadness will be GONE!  So, when you find yourself longing for something better, remember this:

(Quoted from Jenny’s blog at redeemingdreams.com.  Check it out!  Great blog!)

If you also find yourself weeping at the weight of sin & the suffering it has brought into this world. Take heart, He has overcome the world. The fact that YOU can actually FEEL that something is WRONG with the world, means that YOU were created for something MORE! It means that YOU can see into ETERNITY. It is your assurance that you KNOW something better is coming. You KNOW that you were created for REDEMPTION. You are blessed because of your awareness that this world bears a curse that is being redeemed through the perfection of Christ. That this world was created for the GLORY of God. And IT IS COMING!

Yes, it is coming!  So, let’s be ready!  God will fulfill his promise and one day we will hear Him say:

"It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.  Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.

You may not belong here either.  If so, be encouraged - we are only passing through...to our REAL home!

Come, Lord Jesus, Come!  

***Check out Jenny's blog!  redeemingdreams.com

The Valley of the Shadow

I love it when I read familiar Bible verses and see something new in them.  For example, anyone who has ever read the Bible knows about Psalm 23.  It’s famous and everyone loves to quote it for the “feel good” emotions that it gives us. 

Well last week, I learned something new about Psalm 23.  I went to a ladies Bible study at one of our churches last Tuesday.  We’ve been studying the Psalms and this time, we studied Psalm 23.  At first, I really wasn’t excited.  I was thinking, “Really?  Of all the Psalms, why this one?  Let’s do one that not many people talk about.”  Well, I was wrong!  I have gotten more comfort and encouragement from one part of this psalm than I could have imagined.  Let me explain.

The psalm begins with the “feel good” statements that we all like.

                         The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

                         He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.

                         He leadeth me beside the still waters.

                         He restoreth my soul.

                         He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. 

 Pretty great, huh?  But what amazed me that night were the following verses.  Notice how they directly follow the verse about being led in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

                        Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

                        I will fear no evil: For thou art with me;
                        Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 

Now, maybe you’ve never noticed this either but it seems to be saying that sometimes the Lord leads us on paths of righteousness that require us to pass through the valley of the shadow of death.  Does that make sense - really think about that!  Why would we be led through the valley of the shadow of death if we’re traveling on the paths of righteousness?  What kind of a God would do that to us??  The God that provides His rod and staff to guide and comfort us.  The God who says, “Fear no evil, I am with you.”

So, we know that we will sometimes travel the lonely road.  But keep reading through the psalm.  What happens at the end of the road?

                        Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.
                        Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
                        Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
                        And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. 

 I truly believe that our cup will run over because we will know the presence of the God who has protected us in the valleys of shadow and the paths of righteousness.  We will know that goodness and mercy follow us because even IN the valleys of the shadow of death – we have NOTHING to fear.  The Lord is our protector and will go before us EVERY single time.

So, what are you afraid of right now?  What is your valley?  I believe that one of the valleys God currently has me traveling through is the valley of infertility.  He has not allowed me and my husband to have children.  Why?  I don’t know.  I want that more than anything – EXCEPT to be faithful to Him.  So, I walk on through the valley and I trust.  This makes me think of the book “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” by Dr. Seuss.   

There’s a part of the book that says:

                        You will come to a place where the streets are not marked. 

                        Some windows are lighted.  But mostly they're darked. 

                        A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin! 

                        Do you dare to stay out?  Do you dare to go in?
                        How much can you lose? How much can you win?
                        And IF you go in, should you turn left or right...
                        or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?

Some days, I seem to be stumbling along through the darkness with no idea of where I’m headed or where to go or what to do.  It’s then that I’m reminded – I’m walking through the valley of the shadow.  But I’m also reminded that my Guide knows exactly where He is leading me and it’s going to be more awesome than I can imagine!

So, keep on walking . . . you know what’s on the other side of the valley!