What Should I Wear?

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Colossians 3:12

I am not a real girly-girl.  Sometimes I think I’d like to be, and other times I try to be…but when it really comes down to it, I just want to be comfortable.  In fact, I would choose a comfortable sweatshirt over a pair of cute heels any day!  But, there’s something about dressing with “style” that makes me feel better about myself.  Now, it’s not that I have any sense of what style is, but I can do a pretty good job of matching my outfit with what I see in the Sunday ads – if I happen to have those items of clothing on hand.  But if I have to go shopping..look out!  Rarely will I ever go shopping for clothes for myself alone – my sisters or a friend are a must (God bless them!).  But if I’m in a bind where no one can go with me, I will just buy what is on the mannequin.  And if the poor mannequin is wearing my size…I have no shame in stripping the mannequin!  A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do sometimes, right?

Anyway, Tuesday this week was a bit of a hectic morning for me.  I’d lost track of time, and really lacked motivation to get going anyway, but then came the challenge of finding something to wear.  I’m sure you ladies can relate.  After trying on five different outfits and combinations, I was out of time and out of creativity (and we’d already thrown out the Sunday paper, so there was no match-it-up combos going on this morning!), so the last outfit on had to be the one I wore.

As I scrambled to get my things together and out the door, I thought about how often we allow our appearance to dictate our attitudes.  I mean, what is it about dressing “classy” that makes us feel better about ourselves?  And why do others treat us differently when we are dressed like a mannequin from a department store versus someone who just crawled out of bed (don’t worry, my sister has reassured me that lounge pants are NOT acceptable as outdoor wear…not even at Wal-mart).

Paul in Colossians, writes, ““Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” (Colossians 3:12)  I LOVE The Message version of this passage:

“So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.” (Colossians 3:12-14)

And regardless of what else you put on, wear love.  How cool is that.  Imagine, if we wore love all the time – even in our lounge pants – how others would treat us?  Better yet, imagine how we would feel about ourselves and how that would lead us to treat others? 

Even as I sit here typing this, this morning, I am running through today’s appointments in my mind and contemplating what to wear…oh, the challenge of being human!  One thing I will not forget to put on?  My basic, all-purpose garment, Love.

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for being with me today.  Thank you for singing over me and covering me. Please help me to remember that when I cover myself in love, the rest of my attire doesn’t matter.  I pray that when others see LOVE on me, they will see You.

In Your Name,
Amen

Looking Up

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Psalm 19:1

I don’t know where you live, but if you live anywhere in the Midwest and you haven’t taken a moment to stand in awe of the absolutely gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, you are missing out! 

Too many times we allow ourselves to only see the negative in things.   I don’t know if it’s because we are always in a hurry and we lost our patience along the way, or if we were just never taught to stop and take a breath – to stop and smell the roses, and look at the sky, and admire the colors before us.  God created such a colorful world that shouts his creativity and design EVERY DAY.  And yet, so many times, we miss it.

Our world tells us to “Hurry up!” and “Keep up!”, but what if that is all a ploy of the enemy to keep us from seeing the beauty of God?  Every morning and every evening, I have the pleasure of driving on HWY 370 with the rest of rush hour traffic.  It would be very deceiving if I said that the traffic and idiotic drivers did not annoy me from time to time – unfortunately, it happens more than I’d like to admit.  But, on the flip side, here’s what I get to see every morning.

 

And here’s what I get to see every evening on my way home. 

 

I know to most folks driving it’s just a sunrise that glares too brightly in their windshields, but to me, it’s a gift.  It’s a beautiful living and moving piece of art…just for me. 

What do you see today that reflects the love and creativity of God - that He would take such care and thought in its design?  Is it the colors in the autumn leaves, twirling as they fall?  The sunlight reflecting rays across a pond?  The clouds transforming seamlessly from one moment to the next?  Perhaps it’s a bird, soaring and dancing on the wind, or an acrobatic squirrel scurrying from limb to limb.  Maybe it’s the way your child squints his eyes when he smiles, or the way your excited puppy prances around your feet.  Whatever it is, just take a moment to really let it sink in.  This is life!  It should be embraced and cherished…and enjoyed. 

That may be difficult for some of us…to look up.  I don’t know what obstacles are before you, or what challenges you are facing; I can’t imagine what dreams are lying shattered on the floor at your feet.  But I know The One who can help you put the pieces back together.  And I know there is another, who wants nothing more than to keep you looking down at the brokenness in your life – to keep you wondering how any of this could ever make any sense at all.  But that is why I am challenging you – and myself – to see life!  To see that God is still in control!

“’Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?’” (Matthew 6:26) Look around you, God has not forgotten you.  Even in those times when we feel He is silent, the earth declares His presence!  The heavens declare it!

Dear Heavenly Father,

Oh, how great are your works, Lord!  The skies shout and proclaim the work of your hand!  Please help me to see YOU today, Father.  Don’t just open my eyes, but refresh them, Father, that I would see you in everything.  That I might know your magnitude by the vastness of the sky, and see that your eye is on the sparrow – simply by acknowledging your design in the life around me – and trust how much more you must care for me.   Thank you.

In Your Name Alone,

Amen