Tears, Joy, and Salvation [and a party!!]

I'm so excited to write this post. I feel God saying it's time to dive in and share this particular story. (In reality, it may be two or three posts by the time I finish the story...not sure yet.)  A post that I have no doubt will bring me goosebumps at times, tears at times, and both of them at the same time at other times. That's a lot of times... ;)

If you are a fellow Christian, I don't hesitate to say that you have someone in your life that you are praying for because they have yet to surrender to and accept and acknowledge Jesus as Lord of their life. If you don't have anyone in your life that needs His salvation, um, you need to get out more. :)

If you are not a Christian, then I invite you to read and seriously consider why you have not accepted Jesus as Lord of your life. That you would hear how very real He is, and how much He loves you. Yes, YOU.

When it is time for me to count my blessings, I have much gratitude for the family I was placed into. While not perfect, I feel we were a close-knit family. I also have much gratitude for the extended families that added so much to my life. The diverse personalities on both sides of my parents: my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins were a joy to be a part of. From my father's side of the family in particular, comes a long line of great storytellers. With this family, I have laughed until my sides hurt and tears rolled down my cheeks. I love stories. My brother and I would hound my parents for stories of their childhoods until we were finally turned down for the day. I share this story to bring you HOPE. Hope for when you are tired of being patient and persistent in praying for someone's salvation. Hope anew that God is still in control and hears your cries for the lost. Hope that renews a mustard seed of faith within your heart.

Let's begin storytime with Jules:)...a story that I never would have thought I'd be telling...the story of a lost husband that was found...a story of redemption.

I had no clue that I had done it. I married into an unequal yoke. I came into the dating scene with two very strong convictions: 1) That my husband had to be a Christian. 2) That divorce was not an option. Would I have said that we were at different places in our spiritual walk? Yes. Had we both grown up in a Christian home? Yes. Did we talk about God and spiritual things when we were dating? Yes. Did he agree that divorce was not an option? Yes. Did this girl who has a hard time and is timid about making big decisions seek God about whom I should marry? Resounding yes. In fact, for once in my life I can say I honestly had no doubts I was supposed to marry Ed.

We began the first 10 years of our marriage with what we both would say was a good marriage. Not great, not perfect, but definitely good. We honestly rarely had an argument and enjoyed being together. We had found a church a year or two after we were married that we felt God leading us to, settled in, and became involved. During the tenth year of our marriage I felt a shift between us. I felt Ed distancing himself from me. Gradually, but it was there. Suddenly I felt that I couldn't do much of anything right. Suddenly even more time was spent pursuing hobbies and work. *Please understand I do not share anything in this story to put anyone/or group of people down. At all. There are simply some parts of our story that play an important enough role that I feel it's beneficial to share and include them. So, in the spirit of transparency, I ask that God give me wisdom to know what to leave out.* I was losing him somehow, and I wasn't sure why? I realized that most if not all marriages go through hard times, and thought maybe I was bring overly-sensitive. Maybe all of this was more normal than I realized?? But, looking back I had no idea how much the more I felt him drifting away, the more I clawed at him trying to bring him back. I'd bend over backwards trying to live up to the things I was hearing him say would make me a better person but yet exhausting myself, because with small children it wasn't even possible. My personality did not help the situation. I wasn't a good communicator, and instead of being assertive I thought it would help the situation to climb into my turtle shell. Honestly, I think you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who hates conflict more than I! :) I'd clam up, and sometimes for several days I'd be in my shell partly to make him realize that I was hurting and wanted him to suffer for a little too, and partly because I didn't know how to do it differently. One of the biggest things I noticed was that there seemed to be a wall building in regards to us discussing God, the Bible, and what He was doing in our lives. This was the time that I was going through Beth Moore's Bible study and learning so much. I'd come home wanting to burst forth with all that I was learning, but felt with certainty it wasn't wanted and would be received with very little interest. One thing I felt strongly and in hindsight believe it definitely was the Holy Spirit, was that in all of my confusion I wasn't to push anything on Ed in regards to spiritual things.

There were several climatic moments in the months before our worlds were turned upsidedown. I remember one discussion where Ed sarcastically said, "Well, maybe we should get a divorce." He tried to make it sound flippant and not real serious, but my. heart. fell. to. my. stomach. My stomach in turn twisted into the biggest knot I had ever experienced. I realized this was serious, what I had been feeling for the past year or so. All I could think was, "WHO? ARE? YOU? We said no divorce? Why would you even "joke" about it?!?" Around this same time we were supposed to be going to a family reunion out of state on my mom's side of the family. The day before we were going to leave, Ed was out in our field and while walking stepped on a small sapling. It snapped back before he could react and poked him a good one in the eye. He thought he was ok, but when he developed stabbing pain about three hours later we headed for the ER. My man is a tough one and to see him in that much pain shook me up. A lot. Enough so, that I backed the mirror of his truck into the side of the garage. Cccrruunncchh. Ei yi yi. :) We found out he had the same as a rug burn on his eye. He would need to be out sunlight and bright lights for one week. I rarely saw fear in my man, but I could tell he was nervous in those next couple days about the health of his eye. I was nervous too. I asked if the kids and I could pray for him, and realized he didn't really care if we did or not. Another breaking point. Later that night I couldn't sleep. I went out to the living room on our recliner and I sobbed. I was confused and angry. I told God, "I have NO IDEA where this man stands. I need a spiritual leader for our home. Please either raise him up in this role or at least let me know the truth about him and You." I realized that night how tired I was. Tired of desperately trying to please my husband. Ed had become a people idol in my life, and God wanted me to realize it. I fully believe God loves the heartfelt, no fluff, gut-wrenching cries of prayer. The prayers where we are at the very end of ourselves and the truth plain and simple comes roaring out.

God answered that prayer several months later. An answer that would shake me to my core. An answer that was above all I had even imagined. An answer that rocked my little world.

Fast forward to a Sunday morning in April. My youngest had been sick that week and I desperately just wanted to get out of the house. I was already up getting the process started to go to church and realized that Ryan still wasn't feeling good enough to go out. Ed didn't seem to care if we went to church anymore, so I quickly assumed I'd ask him to stay home with Ryan and he'd be more than happy to. I went back, woke him up, and asked if he'd do that. He was pretty sleepy and didn't answer me. I still assumed, so I went out to the kitchen to do a few things before getting dressed and ready for church. I came back to the bedroom and walked into our bathroom to a dressed-and-ready-for-church Ed. Um, excuse me?!?!? I wasn't happy about it. I got the girls ready for church and sent the three of them off  while I stayed home and felt sorry for myself...let's not skirt around the truth. :) I'll come back to the home scene a little later, but right now I want to share what transpired at church while I was home with Ryan.

Ed's cousin and his family were attending the same church at the time and our girls enjoyed when they could sit together for the service. They asked right away if they could go and sit with their cousins and Ed sent them. God works in such amazing ways. I have NO doubts He orchestrated the very fact that Ed was sitting by himself that particular Sunday. No distractions. Nobody to interrupt him and his thoughts. Ed said the worship part of the service began and he realized he was getting a little emotional during the songs. Up to this point in our ten year marriage I had only seen him cry twice. He just simply did NOT cry. He said he tried his best to squelch the emotion, and did to some point, but something was stirring. The sermon started. The subject was on the power of God. Ed said he normally was a master at tuning out the sermon, but something happened. He couldn't shake the sermon away and felt compelled to read the power points, etc. The emotions returned and he for a moment thought he was losing it! Our pastor ended his sermon and said, "I feel strongly that I am to offer an alter call today." Can we take a pause just for a moment?

Look with me just for a moment to the unseen world. A world where angels and demons collide and battles are fought over and around us that we are so often oblivious to. A world where we are protected in more ways than we realize. A world where our prayers make an impact. A world that fights hard for the souls of people. Angels carrying out God's commands to impact unbelievers to salvation. Demons carrying out the commands of the enemy to tempt and keep the unbelievers in chains. A world that God allowed Ed for a moment to feel the intensity of the battle that was being fought over him. Where both sides fought for his life. Where in the heavenly realms I imagine a collective sucked in breath while they wait to see what the outcome will be...

Ed said he no longer had any control over his emotions. He was blatantly crying and was kicking himself for not having any control. At the same time that our pastor announced an invitation, Ed knew it was for him. He became keenly aware of a battle fought over him and he heard God say, not in an audible voice but where He clearly speaks to our hearts, this: "I'm not willing to let you live a double life anymore. This is the most pressure I can put on you to surrender to me and receive my love, and still have it be your choice. You need to make your choice." Ed's eyes were opened to how very tired he was. How exhausted he was from living a lie and running from God. He had filled his life with hobbies, work, and everything else he could think of to fill the void. Ed knew he would get up either way. He knew that if he didn't go up front he would walk to the back of the church, out the doors, and leave church for good as well as his family. It is with great joy that I share this part of the story. This line: HE CHOSE LIFE. LIFE ABUNDANT!!!!

Can you hear it? Can you hear the party in heaven? The rejoicing that the lost had been found? The shouts of triumph and glory to God? *Luke 15:10

I suppose I could end the story here. But, it wouldn't be the whole story. And, this is gonna be one long post, not broken into two, because I can't wait to tell the rest of the story!:)

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

I was washing dishes. I felt the Holy Spirit nudge me. "Don't you think it's time you broke up the pity party?"... *sigh* "Yes God, it's not right and I know it." Another Holy Spirit nudge: "Sing. Glorify me. Just sing." Ok...It's not that I CAN'T sing...I can carry a tune, but I was not the kind of person that sang a lot around the house. It was an unexpected request but it was strong enough that I listened. And so, I sang. Over and over I sang these words:

Ah Lord God! Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power!
Ah Lord God! Thou hast made the heavens and the earth with Thine outstretched hand!

Nothing is too difficult for Thee! Nothing is too difficult for Thee!

Great and Mighty God! Awesome in power! Nothing is too difficult for Thee!

It's the song that came to my head and the more that I sang it, the more it built up joy within me and the desire to sing it with all my might. I found out later that at the very time I was worshipping was the time that heaven was rejoicing. God's way of allowing me to join the party. He's a good God.

Ed came home. I was sitting at the table with lunch ready and honestly, still a little disappointed that I hadn't gotten out of the house. Ed has always, from the start of our marriage been very good at apologizing. I sensed right away that he was quieter than usual and seemed a little distracted when they walked in the door and washed up for lunch. I sat in my chair and came to the conclusion that he was feeling badly that I hadn't gotten to go to church, and would be apologizing soon. Especially so, when he came to me and knelt down on one knee beside me. There was an apology, but far from what I was expecting.

"I don't even know how to tell you this....but...I haven't been the person you thought I was...(really? ya think?);) I became a Christian today...I'm so, so happy, but I'm so sorry for living a lie...I hope you can forgive me...it's ok however you respond..."

Did someone just squeeze all the oxygen out of the room? Because I'm having a hard time breathing here...!!! Shock doesn't even begin to describe my emotions. I did manage to say a few words: "This is overwhelming, but I'm with you and behind you all the way." My oldest daughter had a piano recital that afternoon and I felt Ryan was feeling up to going, but we had to scramble through lunch to get to the program in time. I couldn't eat much and was too shocked to say much. We both sat through the recital close to tears the entire time trying to process everything. And, I'm positive we didn't hear a single song that was played, even our own daughter's. :)

The next weeks were nothing but a roller coaster for me. I went up and down and teeter-tottered between joy and gratitude and awe at the changed man I was living with, to anger and hurt at being deceived, to feeling guilty because I had those feelings. Some might argue that it really wasn't necessary for me to feel those feelings at all. I mean, it wasn't like my husband had announced an affair, or actually left me, or...

But, I felt God allowing me to vent, allowing me to hurt, allowing me to have time to trust again. I will admit I put up a wall for awhile. I decided that Ed had pulled the wool over my eyes enough, and it would NOT happen again. These circumstances shook me to my very core. How had I not had discernment? What would people do and think? Oh boy, did my people-pleasing tendencies take a beating over the next year!! God would uproot the need to try and be all things to all people and the need to keep a good image in people's eyes. What important lessons I would learn. I'm grateful to this day.

One of my first questions for Ed (and actually, from other people too) was "Don't you mean you rededicated your life?!? You told me you went forward at a youth revival meeting when you were a teen?!" He had. But, within the first week or two he became disillusioned with the rules and regulations that were required of him, but that were legalistic, by the church he grew up in. He decided he simply wasn't cut out to be a Christian and in his heart walked away. He said after we were married he would have dreams where the rapture had occurred and he wasn't ready. He knew he was headed for hell. He woke up more than once, heart pounding and reaching for me to see if I was still there. To make sure it wasn't real. Ed said at one point in his life when he was reading his Bible trying to find peace, he read of the chosen people of God. One of the biggest deceptions the enemy used against him was that because he became disillusioned with the church rules and had no desire to conform to them, he convinced Ed that he just simply wasn't one of the chosen. When I heard Ed share these stories I was amazed and saddened to tears at the same time at how much heaviness and burden he had carried. And, that I had had no idea. I was having my devotions one day in the week following Ed's salvation and felt God press upon my heart to share a verse with Ed. In context, it is referring to Jesus, but I felt God wanting to confirm permanently in Ed's heart that he was chosen and accepted. *Psalm 2:7 *Acts 13:33 I watched tears roll down my husband's cheek when he read it.

Another question I had: "Why marry ME?!?" Deep within every person, whether they acknowledge it or not, God has created a deep desire to worship their Creator. To have a relationship with their Creator. To fill a void that only the One who created them can fill. Deep inside of Ed was still a desire to know His Creator. When he met me, he explained that he admired the joy I had as a Christian and thought that if/when he settled down with someone like me, it would lead him to find the relationship with God he was looking for. Could I save him? Obviously no, but our lives are meant to point others to Christ, and my heart has grieved at the lost possibilities that I had in our marriage to show him more self-less love and compassion, where I could have forgiven quicker and reached out even when he was distant, even if I thought he was already a Christian. It wasn't just me that had to forgive, Ed had hurts from me that he had to forgive as well. Several posts ago, I shared my list. One of the things that I shared that day along with my list was how I had questioned God as to why He had me sharing as often as He had in the months following Ed's conversion. Ed had very strongly felt God asking him to share more one on one with people about his salvation instead of sharing in front of the congregation. We spent time with friends, family, and people from the church, sharing our story. It was such a blessing to have people rejoice with us. To have people share tears with us as he told his story. People living out the call to "rejoice with those who rejoice."  *Romans 12:15 Another blessing was to have friends who sought me out to ask, "How are you? REALLY, how are you doing?" And, who let me be honest. I wanted to know why Ed was feeling led to share one on one, and I felt led to leave my heart wide open and vulnerable too many times for my liking. (Don't get the wrong idea...I wasn't up front every other Sunday or anything):) I know God doesn't always answer our questions specifically. Sometimes He just wants us to trust in spite of them, but for that particular question I received an answer. After I shared my list I told them that it had come to me that part of the reason I was to share, and especially to share my list, was that for most of Ed's life and in our relationship, Ed was viewed as the bad guy. (Had he made mistakes? Yes.) But, God wanted people to realize that I was just as wrong. Wowzers...have you ever looked back and wondered how you were able to do something so boldly?? For me, these times of sharing are one of them!!! God gives us grace to do and be what we never thought we were capable of. He receives the glory when we do. Because, it's more obvious that we haven't done it on our own. He transformed my introverted, private self into a transparent, open person, willing to share. He transformed my extroverted, opinionated husband into one who developed a willing heart to quietly be led and guided by His Spirit to share one on one with people as God led Him to. He transformed my head-into-debate-and conflict-with-ease-and-I-like-to-be-right husband into a man very patient and gentle with me as I worked through becoming a better communicator.

I also watched my unemotional husband with a tough exterior transform into a brand new person. A man who said at one point, "I'm just an emotional trainwreck!" :) I watched him experience a joy and peace beyond understanding. I watched him develop a new and genuine love for others and me. He told me with tears in his eyes, "It's just so freeing. Just to have a relationship with Him."

God gave me the time I needed to heal, but in my hurt I was going through, I was still reverting to some of my old ways of climbing into my shell. He knew it wasn't a healthy thing. In my tears one night I felt Him tell me "I've changed Ed. Yes, you were deceived and hurt and it wasn't right, but now it's time to work on you." Thus, began the purifying that led to my list. It wasn't a pretty thing. But, God in His goodness doesn't allow the pain of discipline without producing something better in it's place. I'm forever grateful. Ed and I began to be able to talk for hours about the things of God and what He was doing for us.

Wow. It's so good for me to reflect on all that we have been through and the victories our lives have witnessed. Times were not suddenly easy for us, but so MUCH was healed and restored both in the following months, as well as years. Did I have times where I wanted to run away from it all for awhile? And see if Ed would really come after me? Yes. Did I still have times where I faced fears of Ed deciding that he would again walk away from faith? Yes. In those fears God took me to a place where I was able to admit the reality that in fact yes, it could happen. In all reality, it could happen to any of us!! It could happen, and if it did God would be enough. 

He's always enough. No matter what we go through. May this truth settle deep in our hearts, and not just in our heads.

This story has been from my point of view. And, while I did my best to convey our story, there's nothing like hearing a testimony straight from someone's own mouth. If you ever want to hear Ed's story from him, I'm sure he'd be willing to share it. How free are you to share your own story of salvation? The enemy would love nothing more than for us to decide our story isn't really exciting enough to share, and for us to keep it to ourselves. God does not need a flashy story of conversion to touch someone else's life. He wants to use every person's story of salvation. He needs people to walk the walk that they talk. Our actions speak louder than our words. The longer I live, the more I watch people instead of just listening. He needs lives that create in others a desire to have what we have. We live lives that will never be perfect. When we can admit when we are wrong and forgive others who are wrong, we impact people's lives greatly as well. Not easy, but when did He ever promise it would be a smooth ride?! In this world, we will have trouble. But, take heart anew with me today and let it sink deep within you that HE HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD. In Him we have this peace. *John 16:33

The heart of what I want to encourage you with (and to remind myself) is to not become weary in interceding for the lost. God in His sovereignty chose a random Sunday in April years ago - oh wait - nothing is random with God! - to rock Ed's world. His timing will reign in the lives of those you love and are praying for as well. In it all, we must remember He allows it to be a choice. He is faithful in allowing every human being free-will. Can, and do our prayers impact the unseen world to act in the lives of unbelievers? I believe it with all my heart. Do our very lives, and the way we live as salt and light impact the lives of unbelievers to bring them to salvation? I believe God uses us, yes, with all my heart. But, it's still a choice. I want to be faithful to the leading of the Holy Spirit as to when it is my turn to impact the life of an unbeliever, both in prayer and in speaking to them, and in how I live my life. I love the illustration I heard several years ago from Lee Strobel in that we are all destined to be links in the chain that leads a person/people to Christ. You may be one of the beginning links that plants a seed, or you may get to be the one who prays with someone, the final link, to accepting Christ as Lord. What a privilege! Just this week I was so blessed to see my daughter's excitement over seeing a little girl she had met and befriended on her youth mission's trip, accept Jesus. What a faith-builder for her! May He build our faith and resolve to help rescue the lost anew today. May He light a fire under those that have resorted to simply going through the motions with Him (as I have done at times...a-hem...the list);) and bring them to a meaningful, surrendered relationship with Him. Because you see, it's the RELATIONSHIP with Him that changes us, not the if-I-do-what-I'm-supposed-to-I'll-be-good-enough mentality. If you are feeling the pain of a loved one who has rejected God, my heart hurts with you. God's heart hurts with you. If you are feeling the pain of a strained relationship or marriage, my heart hurts with you. God's heart hurts with you. If you are feeling God is silent, can I encourage you to trust Him in spite of your feelings? Can I encourage you to seek Him with your whole heart while He may be found? *Isaiah 55:6 Can I encourage you to not lose heart? Can I also encourage you not to run from Him? Encourage you to be honest with Him about your pain? Encourage you to open up your own heart as to what He wants to teach YOU through it all? He is enough.

Here's a (hug) from me to you. A hug because you made it through this long, long post. :) But, mostly because we ALL benefit from a caring hug~

Jules

Wolves [in sheep's clothing]

I like clothes. I really like 'em a lot. Shades of grey. Bright pops of color. Yellow. I love yellow. Shades of brown. Greens. Jean material. Cotton. Corduroy in the fall. Cozy sweaters. Shades of coral. Turquoise and aqua. Did I mention yellow? White and cream. Comfy sweats. Jersey. Polka dots. Navy blue.

So, anybody ready to go shopping with me?!? :)

Having the human nature that we do, most of us have at one time or another looked at a stranger's attire and have either made an assumption or two about the kind of person that they are or have been able to tell a lot about what that person is "all about' by what they are wearing. Have you ever gotten to know someone, and realized they weren't the person that you thought they were? There are days that I have to run a quick errand and I do so thinking, "I really hope I don't see anyone I know." And yes, we all know that's when you see everyone you know. I wouldn't want people to come to too many conclusions about me when I'm in that situation. Although, I'd be a little interested in knowing what people would assume about me from some of those excursions out where I'm looking less than stellar. Ironically, I have no pictures of myself to share with you from those days either. :) In general, I like to look my best when someone's snappin' a picture of me...

The title of this post...it's the subject that God pressed and pressed and pressed into me to begin a blog. I remember thinking, "O-kayyy...this is not an easy subject God..." "I don't really feel worthy to be writing about this subject..." And, the infamous: "Maybe I'm not hearing right?..." (You may get weary of hearing that);) I won't soon forget sitting down one day mulling over what I should read for my quiet time with Him. Do I read from a bible study, a passage on my own, etc.? This topic came to mind and I recall thinking "Um, where do I start?!?" That particular day I flopped open my Bible only to realize the pages I opened up to were about false teachers/prophets. *Ezekial 13 I read through the chapter and flipped randomly to another part of the Bible. Same thing. *II Peter 2 I flipped yet another time randomly and you guessed it, same topic. *I John 4 Then we went to Jude. This was not a fluke/coincidence, friends. I heard God whisper, "This is important to Me, see??" I'm SO thankful God doesn't require us to be scholars or priests before He is willing to teach us. I'd be up a creek. I thrive on practical. I thrive on learning from and leaning on a God that has shown me that all He needs is an open heart. I had just come through a season where I literally felt bombarded from several completely different circumstances in my life where I watched people fall for false teaching. It's not an easy thing to observe. 

I don't write to you today with a list of false teachers. I don't write to expose any specific person or teaching. I write to: 1) share with you what God has taught me so far, and 2) if you are a fellow Christian, I write with a plea to wake up to the wolf scheme that our enemy has got going on.

God's very character is goodness, therefore He cannot be anything BUT good. The ding-dong devil's character has absolutely NO measure of goodness in it. He takes what God has made good and flips it on it's head to destroy us. God has given us gushing, life-giving living water. The enemy turns the whole concept of living water around and tries to drown us with trouble and heartache. God has given us His presence through the Holy Spirit as a refining fire that He lovingly molds and purifies us into gold with. The enemy turns this whole concept around and literally tries to burn us with the intent to kill and destroy us into extinction. The enemy lives with the intent to lead as many men and women to reject the God who saves them so that he can further fill his eternal lake of fire. He also comes as an angel of light. *II Corinthians 11:14 So yes, it's not always obvious that it is him. we. need. so. much. discernment.

We live in a day and age where you can find support for a vast and wide amount of ideas that people want to believe and have it still be labeled as "Christian". (Hmmm, sounds kinda familiar. *Judges 21:25 And, for us today: *II Peter 3:3)
There was a time where I would have responded to this subject with some fear. I mean, in reality I really don't want to be decieved!! So, do we just stick our heads in the sand and live a sheltered life to avoid deception? Obvious answer: no. Most people relate the ostrich to a stick-your-head-in-the-sand kinda bird, which is actually a myth...it just ducks down when in danger. I have to smile when I read in Job of the description God gave of the ostrich. *Job 39:13-18 (Especially vs. 17) "for God did not endow her with wisdom or give her a share of good sense." See? We don't need no ostrich attitudes!! (Hmmm, maybe we ought to be switching the words to The Chicken Dance song to "I don't wanna be an ostrich, I don't wanna be...") :D
I find it intriguing how much God uses animals to illustrate things to us. He obviously delights in His creation!

The answer to my own personal battle with fear and the victory He has given to me over it lies with a word from the psalmist. The answer to living above deception is found in those same words from the psalmist. *Psalm 34:4-5 "I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame." Don't duck as the ostrich does friends, look UP and seek Him. I came to the place in my life where I sought Him wholeheartedly and asked Him to lead and guide me in the truth. Even when it's unpopular. God is such a huge God. There will always be mystery surrounding Him and His ways, but there are truths and doctrines that He has revealed that cannot be compromised. I want my heart to be open to new things He's teaching me, yet at the same time we cannot accept every little thing that comes our way regarding Christianity and God. He will be faithful to show us the way. He will.

I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. I love clothes shopping enough that there have been times where God has asked me to fast from purchasing clothes for certain amounts of time. A reminder between Him and I that it can't become too important and necessary for me to shop and have new clothes. A reminder to be thankful for what I already have. He has also asked me at times to take a break from some of my favorite bible study teachers and preachers I listen to via radio, etc. (Please do not misunderstand me, this did not include skipping church for awhile. :) That's not what I'm advocating. Although that being said, it is wise to evaluate and make sure that we are listening to true Biblical teaching every Sunday at the church we are attending!)  I thank God much for the godly teachers and pastors that have influenced my life and drawn me closer to God. But, they are human. He had me take a break as a reminder between Him and I that no one person(s) has all the answers. That they cannot replace my relationship with God and what He wants to teach me Himself. What He wants me to hear from Him one on one. He knows exactly and perfectly what we need most. He has also been faithful to caution me against certain teachings and teachers, to steer clear from their deception.

"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." -Jesus *Matthew 10:16
I love how The Message words it:
"Stay alert. This is hazardous work I'm assigning you. You're going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don't call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove."

(Hey! I see a bird in the verse above that we WOULD do well to imitate!) :) Quite the words from our Jesus. They are not for the faint of heart. Are you in? The encouragement and comfort is that our Sheperd does not leave us alone. We will not be in want. Along the way He makes us to lie down in green pastures, and He leads us beside quiet waters. He restores our soul. Even though we walk through valleys where wolves are on the prowl, He walks with us. He prepares a table before us while our enemies look on, not able to touch us. *Psalm 23 Wolves are deceived people. It wouldn't surprise me that as we stand for truth, that we may actually be viewed by them and accused by them as the ones who are wolves. As the bad guys. Because they hate the truth. Man looks at the outward appearance, God looks at the heart. What's under it all.  *I Samuel 16:7  Let's be wise fashion gurus and follow in His footsteps. Matthew 7:15-23 contains much wisdom for us.

Rejoice in the fact that God has promised that all untruth and falsehood WILL be exposed!! *Matthew 10:26 *Matthew 7:19 Rest in the peace that He will give and the patience He has towards us as we seek His face. Be willing to repent and remove any falsehood that you've been following if/when He reveals it to you. Whether through a brother/sister in Christ, or from His word. *Proverbs 27:17 Be willing to confront in love when you feel God leading you to reach out to those that are deceived. When we come in Holy Spirit-prompted love, and not out of our own agendas powerful and good things happen. *Jude 22-23 *I Corinthians 3:6-7 Plant the seeds. His Holy Spirit will water them and make them grow.  

*Proverbs 30:8 "Keep falsehood and lies far from me;..."  I pray it with all my might. I want to know the truth. The whole truth. And, NOTHING but the truth. So help me, dear God.

It's time to get out of my pajamas and get dressed for the day. I'm choosing to put on some sheep's clothing. Some truth. It's always in style. I think I'll also wear some red, white, and blue today. Have a great day my fellow fashionista!!

Jules