True Happiness....

Hey, y'all!

So many things are in my heart today, I feel like the sons of Korah who write in Psalm 45, "My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer." (NKJV) Wow! That's me today. Why? Well, many reasons, which I will tell you about for the next several days.

First, I have learned an important thing today: contentment is not based on circumstances. I have heard Beth Moore mention this before (if you're looking for a great Biblical teacher, who makes you love the Lord more and more, check out her blog here: http://blog.lproof.org/  or her ministry web site: http://www.lproof.org/). I knew it to be true, but now I have experienced it in my life!

For a while, I wasn't considering a certain opportunity in my life because I thought it would be "boring." I also felt that if I were supposed to take advantage of the opportunity, I would feel it. We've all been there, right? Well, yesterday, I was presented with many reasons to take this opportunity and I felt myself being swayed in that direction. So, I thought, "What is going on here, Lord?" I prayed and contemplated; I asked God to reveal to me if this was His will for me.

Then today, it hit me: When I thought about taking this opportunity, I was content. Not because I thought this opportunity would be the best thing ever in itself, but because Jesus Christ would be with me no matter what. Those times that we don't "feel" convinced we are supposed to go in a particular direction in life, if what we are considering is not sinful and everything else seems to be pointing in that direction, we may just be being called in that direction. Remember, it's not circumstances that make you happy, it's the Lord Jesus Christ Who is with you always Who makes you happy.

God bless everyone of you!

Lessons from Hair: Part 2

Hey y'all!

Today we move on to the second lesson from our passage in John.

Judas was not a nice guy (definitely an understatement) and he was very harsh with Mary in this passage. He was offended that she would "waste" such expensive perfume on something he considered frivolous. How many times have we been discouraged by someone who thinks that what we have to offer the Lord isn't the right thing to offer or been discouraged by someone who thinks that what we offer can serve some better purpose?

Yet the Lord Jesus said, "Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial." (NKJV) Did you notice that first part? "Let her alone." How awesome is that? I know many, many times I have wished I could have someone to stand up on my behalf. Mary didn't have just anyone stand up for her, she had the very Son of God!

Jesus accepted and loved what Mary had given to Him, even though Judas found her gift disgraceful. Jesus accepts and loves what we give Him in the same way. He loves our gifts to Him because He loves us. Our gifts may not be the most spectacular, the prettiest, the most obvious, etc. but when we offer them up to God and use them for His glory, He loves them!

As I was typing this post, I was led to see yet another lesson from the words, "Let her alone." I have struggled with assurance most of my Christian life. I don't doubt the Lord, but I doubt myself. Many times I have thought that I deserve condemnation and hell. And you know what? I do! We all do! But the Lord Jesus Christ redeemed us from our sins by His death on the cross! His righteous life is imputed to us when we believe on Him, it's not and never will be about how "good" we can be. Now, of course, this is not license to sin, but it's comforting to know that the work is already completely accomplished. Oh and you know what? If the devil ever tries to convince the Lord that we belong to the devil instead of to Him because of our sin, I feel that the Lord will answer in a similar manner to the way He answered Judas, "Let her alone..."


Have a blessed Lord's Day!

Lessons from Hair....

Hey, y'all!

A few days ago, I was reading John 12 in my personal devotions. As I read verses 1-7, something really struck me: Mary used her hair to wipe Jesus' feet! Right about now, I feel y'all thinking, "Yes, Lydia. It's always said that, honey...." That's true, but have you ever though about it? I mean really thought about it? I feel that there are two parts to this lesson; we'll only deal with the first lesson today.

Let's consider what hair mean to us as ladies: For many of us, hair is a way of expression; hair is fun to style (unless you have really thick, straight hair, but let's not go there now); hair is something that we use to beautify ourselves; hair is one of our most prized possessions.

And Mary used her hair to wipe Jesus' feet.

She committed to the Lord something that she most likely considered one of her most prized possessions. She considered Him more important than her hair. Not only did she commit it to Him, she used one of  her highest forms of beauty to wipe his feet. No one would have said a word if she had had she wiped the Lord's feet with a towel! Yet, she loved Him enough to voluntarily use one of her greatest gifts for what some, like Judas, probably considered an unimportant service.
 
This is not an attack against hair. I enjoy trying new products and styles on my hair. Two of my best friends can attest that I love hair and always have. I am simply struck that many times we have an attitude of, "Oh Lord, you can have control of everything in my life...except...." Mary didn't add the "except" to the end of her commitment, she gave that one special thing to Jesus. There should be nothing in this life that we value more than the glory of the Lord.

May our Lord bless you!


P.S. I would love to hear what y'all think of my posts! Is there anything that you would like to have me write about in upcoming posts? Hope to hear from y'all!

Beauty in the Lord....

Hey, y'all!

I thought that it would be appropriate to start a blog named "Clothed with Strength and Dignity" with a shopping story. Usually, shopping is one of my favorite things to do. I love constructing modest, but flattering outfits!

On the day that my story took place, however, things weren't quite as sunny. My sister and I were at K-Mart and I had tried on several different articles of clothing...nothing fit. How many of us have been there? Having lost quite a bit of weight in the last year, it frustrated me to know that I was slowly, but surely, gaining it back. Saying I was bummed is an understatement: I was flat out mad. I was mad at myself for regaining the weight, I was mad at exercise for being so hard, and I was mad at food for tasting so good (I was mad and slightly crazed). Standing in the checkout line, while my sister paid for her purchases, it occurred to me that I was mad over something that in the long run, had very little significance. Yes, I had regained the weight; yes, I would have to go through the process of losing it all over again, but, you know what? It's the Holy Spirit inside of me who makes me beautiful. Doesn't matter what size I am. I am God's dwelling place. I am beloved of the Lord. I am beautiful in His eyes, whether I'm a size 10 or a size 110. Outside beauty is not what is important: inside beauty is what counts.

Yours in Christ,