Thursday, October 9, 2008

Sheer Heaven...




What a beautiful day it was outside today! Even though I spent most of the day inside getting ready for tomorrow's Bible study, I got to enjoy little pieces of it while hanging clothes, etc. on the line. In order to save money on propane, Dave made me this new clothes line. I am able to hang 3-5 loads of laundry on it at a time. It really comes in handy when I am gung-ho on laundry day!

Today I washed a box of sheer curtains I bought at an estate sale last month. I tried to get out of there without too much. I bought a couple of chenille bedspreads-which really bring back memories of Grandma's farm. The box of curtains. A "Last Supper" paint by numbers...big mural. I was pleased with my purchases, but didn't really need any of it. I almost sold them at my yard sales, but didn't.



I couldn't resist taking pictures of the lines of sheer curtains hanging out to dry. In a perfect world they wouldn't have wrinkled in the washer. But, alas, my world is not perfect. If I was a real stickler...I'd take them down tomorrow, iron them, stick them back on and take new pictures with them nice and unwrinkled. But I'm not going to worry about it. Wrinkles happen. Still, there's something a lineful of sheers does to me. My Grandma's always had sheers. I can remember being mesmorized by the sheers blowing in the windows on a breezy day or during a storm. Those memories are dear to me.



There is a neat set with blue flowers I think I'll hang in my dining room. Two sets of sheers and valances. Then there's the red dot ones. How fun. Lydia has claimed them for her room. I think they're my favorite! There are others I'm not sure I'll keep-too much orange in them for me-definitely 70's. I'm going for a softer, plainer, brighter look. I think for now-I'll try the blue flower ones. If I don't like them, I have two each of some long white on white sheers that will be just as pretty and much plainer.



I'll probably iron them on Saturday. I love ironing. I love starching and ironing.

Praise God for the wrinkles and praise Him when He irons them out!! Praise God for the blessings of the home-sweet things!

x0

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

The Old Paths...

It doesn't seem possible I haven't been on here since the end of August. But it's true! So many things have been happening to me in the Lord this year I cannot put it all in one post.

I will tell you a couple of things that have happened.

Earlier this year, I was led to read Jeremiah 6:16. I'm not sure if I blogged about it or not, so if I'm repeating myself-forgive me.

Jeremiah 6:16 says, "Stand you in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls."

The Lord got through. The ways I was walking in were not pleasing to Him. I had made a start of it, but somehow got off "The Old Paths and The Good Way". I embarked on the "Narrow Path and Difficult Way" Jesus spoke of in Matthew 7 but went off on a side trail that "seemed" right to me. And I walked on it for years. We know where the "Seemeth Right Path" leads...death! My soul was not resting!!!

God, in His abundant mercy did not leave me in that state. He opened my eyes and is still showing me areas to sweep out and clean up. It's about walking His way.

Also, the Lord has led me to a better understanding of what "ekklesia" means. It is what He desires for His people. We are "the called out ones". What does that mean? Well, for a true believer it means there can no longer be a walk that holds hands with the kingdom of this world. It means that we are called out of this earthly kingdom to walk as He walked. And so much more.

When God says His people are to be "in" this world but not "of" it-He means it. Therefore, to mix the world into our faith in any capacity is wrong. The Israelites were warned of it and did it and it turned out very bad every time. You cannot mix the two kingdoms-when you do-God is not in it-at all. A long time ago He gave me a song about it called "Both Feet In". It describes the choices we make...it's all or nothing...either way-but you can't have it both ways. This is God's heart on the matter. You choose Him or you don't. No mixture. No blend.

Anyhow...I have since come to the conviction that if we are called out of the world-it should be clearly evident. To say we are believers and partake of the things of the world is totally wrong. To say we are believers and dress like, act like, listen to the media and the songs, read the same books...all of this is a mockery to the Lord. He does not mix Himself with this. With this understanding, it has become evident to me to begin dressing modestly and also after reading 1 Corinthians 11 and praying and listening to teachings on it...I have come to the understanding on the "veiling" or head covering.

No, I have not converted to Mormonism. I attend a non-denominational church that doesn't teach veiling. It's just understanding God's Word at face value, in simplicity, as a child. Honoring His headship, His way, without a lot of spin. It's an outward symbol of the authority God has set up for His people. Like baptism is a symbol of our death to ourselves and this world and our resurrection in Christ, so veiling is a symbol of our acknowledgement of God's established authority.

Feminists hate it. What??? Man is the head of woman??? What??? The old me wrestled with it...for years...and the old me was wrong.

I relinquished it all to Him. The One who shed His Precious Blood to redeem me. Who am I to tell Him how to run His Kingdom? I will say as Job..."Blessed be the Name of the Lord."

So, some much-needed changes have occurred over this past year. Some were hard and I'm still learning. Modest dress and covering my head daily. No make-up or dyeing my hair anymore. Not because it's a law, but because God has led me there. Not because I have to, but because I want to Him to increase and I must decrease. I want to be Christ-centered, not self-centered. I want to esteem others higher than myself-not have great self-esteem. Totally opposite ends of the spectrum. Bottom line...it's not about me...it's about Jesus working in my heart...and changing it.

How blessed we are to be able to say that because of the Lord's great love...we've been redeemed! Praise Him that we can walk upright to be able to glorify Him in the home-sweet things!

But Wait...There's More!!! Up Next: Learning to Let My Husband Lead:Yielding to God's Will:Doing All Things As Unto the Lord