March 7, 2008

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   A late night prayer request … I know many of you won’t see this until the morning, but I received a call from my son late last evening.  He and Tim started out on about a 6 hour drive to Los Angeles last night … it was about 7:00PM, California time when they finally left.  They are going to a church, where there is a Christian Film Festival going on, to do some filming and editing.  They are pretty excited about this trip, and will be there for a couple of days.  They were going to leave around 3:00PM yesterday afternoon, their time, but they had to finish up some projects first … it was late when they started, and I’d so appreciate your prayers for their safe travels there, and back!   
  
  Well, the pumpkin pie is gone, our ice and snow have since melted, and we are again under a Winter Storm Warning for Friday, and Saturday!  Yay!  I’m still holding out for that snow I’ve been hoping for!  I’ve seen weather and news reports with all of the snow some of you are getting … it’s just not fair … send some my way, please!!  I know some of you are probably getting pretty tired of it, but hold on a little while longer  … Spring IS on the way!   I did see about 6 robins in our backyard just after the snow and ice melted Wednesday, although I did notice the squirrels eating the corn we have out for them as if winter is just beginning!  Who knows, with the strange weather we’ve been having … good thing we have ample supply of the corn for them, just in case!  I’ll let you all know just how much snow we may be getting … they are saying anywhere from 3 to 9 inches.  I’d prefer the latter!  So tell me, how’s the weather in your neck of the woods?  Well, today I think I’ll dig out my banana bread recipe and work on a couple of loaves.  I have a recipe that calls for sour cream, and I’m needing to use up some ripe bananas.  Not sure what I’ll do for dinner yet … maybe a big pot of hearty bean soup and cornbread. That sounds good on a snowy day, don’t ya think?!  I hope you all have a blessed and faith-filled Friday!
  
    Hugs,
         ~ Deborah <><
  
  
  

   

  
    HE DRESSES ME ~
            - From CF Devotionals
  
  She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles to the merchant.
  ~ Proverbs 31:24 
  
  Ezekiel 16:6-14 – (God is talking to Israel) “And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee ‘When thou wast in thy blood, live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, live.’  I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare. Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a convenant with thee, sayeth the Lord God, and thou becomest mine.
  
  Then washed I thee with water; yea, I thoroughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I annointed thee with oil. I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers’ skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.
  
  Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and the remnant was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.  And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect for my comeliness, which I had put upon thee saith the Lord”.
  
  

  

  
  

  Every single one of us needs God’s covering of linen.  When He looks at us, through eyes of love, He sees what we really are.  He sees our sins, our hurts, our bitterness, our anger, our jealousies, our thoughts, our unkindness, our pettiness, our wrong motives, our self-centeredness, us.

  He longs to cover us.  Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow.  Again, and again, as I read the Scriptures, I see God crying out, “Don’t you know, haven’t you heard?  I love you!  I made you!  You are broken, I can make you whole!  You are naked, I can clothe you!  You are lying there, I can pick you up!  You are low, I want to raise you up!  If only you will let Me.”

  The Proverbs 31 Woman knows this.  She understands that the truly fine linen really comes from God.  She is clothed in the best because God dresses her, and she makes sure that only the best is given out.  When she sees someone on the streets, she sells the linen, saying “Let me tell you about Jesus.”  When she looks at her children, she sees through His eyes.

  His beauty adorns her, and His grace shines through.  Everything she does reflects His will in her life.  She is a living, breathing testimony of our God and Father.

    Father God, I thank You that You clothed me with Your righteousness.  Your righteousness is fine linen.  Father, that is so opposite of Isaiah 64:6 ~ “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags: and we all do fade as a leaf: and our iniquities, like the wind have taken us away.”  Lord, my righteousness is like a filthy rag.  My sins remove me from Your presence.  Thank You that You love me so much that You are willing to cover me.  All I have to say is, “Forgive me, Lord, I have sinned.” And I say it, from the rooftops, “Forgive me, I have sinned.”  And You clothe me. Thank You, Lord for Your love, Your mercy, and Your grace.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

  • 5:05 am
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