Your Sunday Best

“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height’ for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  1 Samuel 16:7

        This topic is touchy and honestly I’m not real crazy about writing it, but I think it needs to be said. I was in a conversation this week that talked about how people used to dress for church and how we dress for church now. It wasn't too many years ago when women were expected to wear a dress and men should at least wear slacks and a button up shirt. Before that there was no question you wore a suit and tie if you were a man and the ladies wore dresses. Today when you walk into a church you will most likely see people wearing jeans, t-shirts, shorts and flip flops just to name a few things that are drastically different. Many frown on this and many feel it’s okay to wear these items.  My personal opinion, not that it matters, is you should wear clothes that are respectful in the house of God. Really and truly you should wear clothes that are respectful all the time since He is with us all the time. (That’s another story)

        I feel like today’s culture pushes dressing a certain way and if you don’t then well you’re poor. What has the result been because of these perceived notions of we have to dress “this” way to attend church? Go ahead and say it…how many of you at some point in your life didn’t step foot through the door of a church because 1) you didn’t like to wear a suit, tie or a dress 2) you couldn’t afford that type of clothing? I’m guessing you know where I’m going with this, so I’m just going to go ahead and go there. The church allowed how you looked to get in the way of saving souls. If you couldn’t or wouldn’t dress your Sunday best you were snubbed. Not only did this hurt the church but it hurt those Christians during the week trying to do good for the Kingdom. I looked and there is not a single spot in the Bible that says you have to dress your best before coming to me. I did find two verses (and there are more than two) that said come, and they are: “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the water; and you have no money, come buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.”(Isaiah 55:1 NIV) The second verse is from Matthew, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 NIV) Nowhere does it say come all who are dressed in your finest clothes and I will give you a drink and give you rest. I have given an example from the Old and New Testament.  When the first church started they didn’t expect people to wear their best. They didn’t have their “best” they had what they had. Even at that we are called to give up everything to follow Jesus. At some point we allowed our appearance to interfere with what Jesus came for.  There is a reason God wants those who are thirsty and weary to come. It’s because we are ALL thirsty and at some point weary. So my questions are this: How many people were shunned from church and died without knowing the love of Jesus because of their appearance?  How many people today are shunned by the church (we the hands and feet of Christ) because of their appearance?

       If as Christians we are to shun those who can’t dress like us then aren’t we defeating the purpose of why Jesus came? He came so that all could be saved from sin, not just those who have a job, and can afford to buy the finer things in life. These are actually the people that didn’t accept Jesus…hum…I’ll leave that thought alone. My point here is money allows us to become prideful if we don’t give God the credit. There are several verses in the Bible that talks about how a Christian should dress, but it’s not what you think it would be. In Ephesians chapter 6 we are to put on the Armor of God. In Colossians we are told to put on a different type of clothing. “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:12-14) Sometimes we get so caught up in people’s appearance that we forget to clothe ourselves the way Ephesians 6 and Colossians 3 tells us to. I’m not pointing fingers here, because I can be found guilty too.

       Let me clarify my opinions (again, not that it matters) and leave you with a question or two. Do I think you should dress your best on Sunday? Sure, but I believe if you want to dress down that’s okay too. You go to church to worship and learn more about God not to impress others. I also know that my best is not the person next to me's best. The taste of clothing and “best” also changes as we get older. I honestly feel it’s between you and God. I’m not here to judge. I have worn a dress to church, but I also have worn slacks and jeans. It depends on how I feel that morning and the weather outside. If God is more concerned about what’s on the inside then shouldn’t we be? Does your “Sunday Best “keep you from being your best? Remember the church is the people, not the building. This isn’t just a Sunday thing..chew on it a while let me know your thoughts. Until next time, “May Yahweh bless you and protect you.” (Numbers 6:24, HCSB)

My Struggle

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” (Psalm 51:12 NIV)

I’m not sure how long this post will be nor do I know the direction it will take. What I do know is I have been putting this post off all weekend. Why, because I do not want to let go and let everyone see my struggles. Here it goes, I’m going to just lay it out there and let God have my fears. Before I start let me just say that Nick, my husband, did okay this.
I guess the best place to start is 10 years ago when I was a newlywed.  Nick and I made financial decisions without prayer. We would continue this path until I started teaching at Gladewater. So, what’s the big deal you ask? Well, we are sitting in a tough spot because of it. Don’t get me wrong we are blessed beyond words, but could we be sitting better had we consulted God before making decisions? Yes! I don’t want to go into the long story, but to sum it up we have debt. Who doesn’t right? Sit back and let me tell the rest of the story.
I’m going to rewind the clock a little past two years and start there. It was the end of the school year and I felt a tug on my heart to stop teaching. I had prayed about this off and on throughout the school year, but as the year was winding down I knew I needed to make a decision. I took one work week and prayed constantly to God to tell me if I should stay at home or teach. Ok, so what’s the big deal ladies stay at home all the time…right? Well, both of my kids were in school and like I said we are in debt. We had been working hard to pay off small credit cards and other things, but we still had debt. There was no real way I could not teach and live as comfortable as we were. We would be ok financially but not comfortable. By comfortable I mean not going and doing as much as we would like or was used to. After talking to Nick and having his support and praying for a week, I turned in my resignation letter. I had my doubts, but knew that God told me to resign. All I wanted and still want is to follow God’s will for my life. Now my journey as not being a teacher continues.  I now have a part time job as a church secretary, but am blessed to work where I am at. I wish I could say my doubts have left and I am completely okay with where I am at, but that would be a lie. As I sit here writing I wrestle with the worldly things of a brick home and money to spend freely…those things are what I dream of, but we are still working towards those dreams. What I want more than that is to follow God’s will. I want to be where He wants me to be. So, for now I must find contentment with the fact that I am blessed beyond words. I have a house, two cars, money in the bank, but more importantly I have a loving Husband, two Healthy, Beautiful Kids, a Job, my Health and most important of all…A GOD who is MY SAVIOR and FRIEND.
When you look at me and wonder why I would give up teaching and the comforts of two full time paychecks consider this…1) How long do I have to be with my kids before they are grown? 2) Is it more important for me to have money or spend time with my kids? 3) Am I poor by America’s standards or by God’s standards? 4) Which is more important? I do have my doubts, and times when I get really down, but then I pray and ask God for wisdom. “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5 NIV)
Am I happy with where I am at financially? NO! Would I give up the time I have with my kids because I’m not teaching? NO! God is doing something in my life. I’m not sure what it is, but I know that I can trust HIM and all is going to be just fine. It’s more important to me to follow God’s will and be poor in the worlds eyes than to be rich in the worlds eyes and not in God’s will. May you seek God and find contentment with where you are at in life and know that He’s not finished with you yet! Until next time, “May Yahweh bless you and protect you.” (Numbers 6:24, HCSB)

Four years ago today

"There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven: a time to give birth and a time to die;" (Ecclesiates 3:1-2)

Four Years Ago Today
 

My legs were heavy,

My heart was broken,

The dark that surrounded me,

The words unspoken.

I couldn’t move,

I couldn’t speak,

The tears came quickly,

The news left me weak.

My world was dark,

My life had shattered,

The whole in my heart beyond repair,

The hurt I felt was what mattered.

I think of you often,

I see a butterfly and smile,

The dark is gone,

My heart not yet whole,

The joy of knowing I will see you in a while.

My Granny, was truly a rose on this earth. So sweet, but could give you a look and you knew you messed up. I love her beyond what my words can express. The day she passed a dark cloud settled over me that I thought would never dissipate. Thanks to a wonderful family and friends who hung in there with me I can say the dark is gone. The pain comes and goes, but my love for her never will. Be sure to tell your loved ones what they mean to you. Be sure to share Jesus with them and take comfort in knowing that if they know Jesus as their savior you will see them again. To us it may seem like forever but our life is like a vapor compared to eternity. "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." (James 4:14) Don't take for granted what could be gone in a second. Life is a gift so live it that way!! Until next time,“May Yahweh bless you and protect you.” (Numbers 6:24, HCSB) 

"a time to weep and a time to laugh,a time to mourn and a time to dance,"(Ecclesiastes 3:4-5)

*Bible verses taken from NIV unless noted.

Masquerade

“Better to be ordinary and work for a living than act important and starve in the process.” (Proverbs 12:9 The Message)
Why do we walk around with a mask on? Are we participants in a masquerade ball minus the fancy clothes? Do we truly see ourselves the way that we present ourselves? Why is it so hard to just be you? This is not something that is a struggle from just the modern age. From the beginning of time people have been masquerading. Before I go any further let me tell you what masquerade means. According to Google masquerade means a false show or pretense or to pretend to be someone one is not.
On a daily basis we do not wear a mask to hide who we are, at least not a physical mask. Most often, and yes, I’m speaking about myself; we interact with people on a neutral level. We tend to be “politically or religiously” correct depending on where we are and who we are with. I’m not purposely pretending to be someone else, but I am trying to be accepted. This in its self is a whole different topic. I think we tend to wear a mask for several reasons and it may be one reason today and another reason tomorrow. My thoughts on this are as follows: 1) We want to be accepted. 2) We haven’t realized who we are. 3) To purposely hurt others. 4) To gain accolades from others.
As long as we are human we will have a desire to be accepted. The hard part is remembering who we should truly be accepted by. We are not here to be accepted by others, but to glorify God. God accepts you, no matter how far off the straight and narrow you have gone, God will meet you right where you are. The second reason can throw some people. By not realizing who you are it’s hard to not wear a mask. My pastor this morning said something that I’m going to use here. He said, “We are all kings and queens.”  Paraphrasing here, we are kings and queens because we are children of God, the King of kings. Am I saying we should all buy fancy clothes and walk around with our noses stuck in the air? NO! I am saying, if we accepted who we really are in Christ we wouldn't want to masquerade around. I’ll be honest, I know who I am in Christ and yet I still walk around with my mask half covering my face most of the time. I read a post on Facebook earlier today that really sums up this point. “The devil doesn't want you to know who you are because you might start acting like it.” If we, as Christians, started acting like true heirs to the thrown there is nothing that could stop us, and that my friends, scares the devil. I can honestly say, I do not wear a mask to purposely hurt others, but there are people out there who do. Many times people masquerade to gain accolades from others. People want the pat on the back for a job well done or maybe even to pretend to be a different type of person than they are for the reputation.
Most of the time my biggest struggle is wanting to do good, but being too afraid to step out and do it. This is a very broad statement, but either I’m too afraid of what others will think or just ignore that still small voice that tells me to do it. I find that I want to do good, but still do bad things. Again this is another broad statement. I don’t steal or murder, but a sin is a sin. Paul says it very well, in Romans chapter 7.

“For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am made out of flesh, sold into sin’s power.  For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate.  And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree with the law that it is good.  So now I am no longer the one doing it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it.  For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do. Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but it is the sin that lives in me. So I discover this principle: When I want to do what is good, evil is with me. For in my inner self I joyfully agree with God’s law. But I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this dying body? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh, to the law of sin.” (Romans 7:14-25 HCSB)

My mask isn't always worn intentionally. The important thing to remember is God can see your intentions, he knows your heart. Job asked a question that doesn't necessarily pertain to this topic, but I thought it still fits. I find myself asking this question too, “Why do I put myself in jeopardy and take my life in my hands?” (Job 13:14 NIV) The obvious answer is I want to control my life but God is in control. If I put my mask down and give God the reigns shouldn't I be comfortable with myself? Easier said than done….so this week, I’m going to intentionally seek God and ask him to help me to put my mask down and give everything to God. And I mean everything, from my thoughts, to my actions, to my family and my friends, it’s all His anyway…so I’m going to attempt to not put myself in jeopardy. Will you? Until next time, “May Yahweh bless you and protect you.” (Numbers 6:24, HCSB)

Be Quiet

“The LORD will fight for you; you must be quiet.” Exodus 14:14

Be Quiet! How many times as a kid did someone tell you to be quiet? Why was it said? Did they tell you so they could talk, or maybe you were being too loud? Was it to keep you from saying or doing something you weren’t supposed to?

I had my fair share of being told to be quiet and telling others to be quiet. Now, as a parent I usually tell my kids to be quiet to either keep them from saying something they shouldn’t or because they are too loud. Has God ever told you to be quiet? Kind of a weird question, I know, but has He? Could God be telling you to be quiet to keep you from saying or doing something that you’re not supposed to do? I don’t mean it as in if you do it you’re going to get in trouble, but in the instance of He’s not ready for you to do that yet or say that yet. The Bible verse above says we need to be quiet and God will fight for us. Depending on your translation, it could say be still instead of be quiet. In this instance I believe the point is to wait on the Lord and let Him fight for you. If we act or speak before we are supposed to it could cause a problem. So, shouldn’t it be that if we act or speak before God wants us to there could be a problem?

I ask these questions, mainly because that’s where I am at right now. I want to do something so badly, but I am impatiently waiting on the Lord to move first. Yes, I said impatiently because Kim Hardy and patient are not usually used in the same sentence…especially when I want something. :) This past week as I finished up work and I stopped to pray something happened that has never happened before. I thanked God for the quiet room and began to pray. Instead of praying, I felt Him tell me to be quiet. So, I waited a few minutes and started to pray, again God told me to be quiet. I sat in silence, waiting so I could pray and finish out my day. I started to pray one last time and again I heard be quiet. I finally gave in and just sat in the quiet room, listening to the silence and waiting for God to speak to me. Only, He didn’t speak to me. We both just sat in silence and oddly enough, after I felt like I had sat long enough I got up and walked out and felt at peace. I didn’t get answers and I didn’t get to ask for help for myself or others, but God knows my heart and for that day that’s all that mattered. Sometimes we need to just be quiet and enjoy it. We are so busy and we want things NOW, but waiting on the Lord is the better route to go. The next time you say, “Be quiet” or you are told to be quiet consider why you are saying it or being asked that. Are you too busy to enjoy the quiet and realize His plans and timing are far better than yours? Can you hear Him when He speaks to you? SHHHH, He’s with you right now…can you sit quietly and wait? Until next time, “May Yahweh bless you and protect you.” (Numbers 6:24, HCSB)

*Bible verses taken from HCSB