May 1, 2008

• Margie posted this and I thought I would link her so you could read it too, especially if you are a homeschooling family!  Quite meaningful and something us moms really need to remember.  It took me a long time to realize the message in this special "verse" but once I did it was glorious freedom and chock full of rewards.
  
  I subscribe to Nancy Campbell's devotions and this was mine this morning.  Oooooo.....Isn't it something when you know the Lord is speaking directly to you?!?!  No one will ever convince me that there is no God and that he does not have everything all planned out.  You know what I mean don't you?  For a day or two or even a week you keep coming across the same verse or the same topic and you know...you just know, He is trying to teach YOU something.  How can I be so self righteous to think..."oh if only so in so would see this or read this or be convicted by this"...when it is ME who needs the lesson?  I share this only because it  meant so much to me and perhaps it may to you as well.  Nancy is a beautiful Godly woman and one of my dearest mentors.  If you have ever heard her speak you can just picture and hear her saying this in her beautiful accent and with her mannerisms.  I could sit at her feet and listen to her all day long for, to me, she is a true Titus 2 woman who gently but firmly steers you right in line with the words of Jesus.  She reflects his precious image for us women and I so respect that.

  
  
  

  WEAR THE RIGHT
  CLOTHES!

   

  Ephesians 2:22-24, "Put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which was
  corrupt according to the deceitful lusts and be renewed in the spirit of your
  mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in
  righteousness and true holiness."

   

  When
  you were born again by the Spirit of God, you received a new wardrobe. It is a
  very expensive wardrobe, paid for by the precious blood of Christ. You have so
  many beautiful garments hanging in this wardrobe. You have lovely dresses of
  love, joy, peace, longsuffering gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness and
  self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23). You have delightful garments of tender
  mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance and
  forgiveness. (Colossians 3:12-17).

   

  The
  strange thing is that although we have this expensive wardrobe, we don't always
  bother to wear the clothes. We are so used to our old shabby clothes of the
  flesh. We feel more comfortable in them. They feel familiar, so we stick with
  them instead of trying out our new wardrobe. To put on a beautiful dress of
  gentleness or patience can seem foreign because we are not used to wearing them.
  

   

  But
  they belong to you! They are yours! Imagine if your husband purchased a very
  special and pricey dress for you. You couldn't believe how posh it was. But you
  never wore it. You thought it was too good for you. How would your husband feel
  when he paid so much for it and wanted to be proud of you wearing
  it?

   

  I
  wonder how God feels when He gives us this glorious wardrobe, purchased at an
  enormous price, and we never wear the garments? He gives them to us but He
  doesn't put them on us. He tells us to PUT THEM ON. "Put on the new man
  ..." I love the
  J. B. Phillip's translation which says, "Fling off the dirty clothes of the
  old way of living ... And put on the clean fresh clothes
  of the new life ..."

   

  Make
  sure you put on a new garment each morning. Have you had a lousy night with the
  baby waking all night? Are you going through a fiery ordeal? Put on the garment
  of praise. (Isaiah 61:1-3). Let me tell you a secret. You won't feel like
  putting it on. You'd much rather put on your dirty old dress of grumbling and
  complaining. But do it by faith. Don't worry about your feelings. Put on your
  praise garment. Start praising and thanking the Lord. As you do it by faith, you
  will actually wear it.

   

  You
  can change garments as you need them throughout the day. Are the children
  getting on your nerves? You feel your anger rising. Quick! Change into your
  garment of long-suffering or patience. Put it on by faith. Thank the Lord for
  His patience which is in you because He lives in you.

   

  Are
  you starting to shout and yell because everything is getting on top of you? Put
  on the garment of gentleness. Thank the Lord for His gentle spirit which lives
  in you. This is the new man. It is Christ in you, the hope of glory. He lives in
  you now.

   

  All
  these beautiful garments belong to you. They are yours. All you have to do is
  put them on by faith!

   

  Strip
  of your old shabby garments. Wear your new ones each day. Live in them. Let
  Christ live His beautiful life through you.

   

  Love
  from NANCY CAMPBELL

   

  PRAYER:

   

  "Thank, you Lord, for all the beautiful garments that you have given
  to me. I am sick of my old rags. They look so ugly to everyone. Help me to put
  on your beautiful new garments which reveal your beautiful life in me.
  Amen."

   

  AFFIRMATION:

   

  I
  may have little in my literal wardrobe, but I have access to the most glorious
  garments in my spiritual wardrobe. Praise God.

  PO Box
  681687, Franklin, TN 37068-1687, U.S.A.

   
  
  

  PS....Don't forget to vote for your favorite boat photo!  *Iliveinmycamera*

  • 7:25 am
  • 4 Comments