Loose Clothes

Yesterday I did something that my Mom always used to do - once a year - with me & my sister... we went school clothes shopping in Houston!

For the first time every in Jordan's school history - no uniforms are required!  So instead of robotically purchasing 5 different colored polo shirts and 5 khaki shorts - I took the kids to The Woodlands to shop for fun school clothes!

We had a blast!  Of course the kids learned what the word "appropriate" means - crazy shorts, glitter shirts will not last past the first wear, and rain boots are not "school shoes".

At the end of our shopping - I asked the kids if I could have a turn.  So my Mom very graciously watched the kids for me while I went to try on "just a few" things.

Now here's where the story takes a bit of a sad turn...

For the past 2 weeks I've been working out like a crazy woman.  Not only am I on a serious marathon training schedule - but I've also added INSANITY (by Shawn T) workouts to my days.  I'm kind of putting myself through my own version of "two-a-days".

charts of my different workouts - with stats

Before going shopping I checked my stats - I've lost 9 pounds and 1 inch in my waist and legs!  Yay!  Right?

I wonder - how many pounds lost would equal a new size - or loose clothes?  I hate women's sizing!

Let's just say I was not the size I was hoping I would be after such loss.

But you know what - these are just physical clothes.  I know one day I will reach my fitness and weight goals - in time.  However, there is another fitness and size goal that I have set my mind to and it has nothing to do with something I would find in Macy's!!

The Bible speaks of another kind of loose clothing!

Check this out....

Psalm 30:11 (ESV)

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; 

You have loosed my sackcloth 

and clothed me with gladness, 

that my glory may sing 

Your praise and not be silent.

Did you catch that?!  I'll exchange loose clothes for gladness!  How exciting!!!

I have many fitness goals - but did you hear the greater ones found here?

1.  For mourning to turn into dancing
2.  Loose clothing exchanged for clothes of gladness
3.  To not be silent about my Lord

One day my size 12 clothes are going to be too big... one day.  And believe me, you'll hear about it!

However, the desire of my heart would be that you would hear about how great my God is more than something I find in a store.  That others around me would know that no matter what tragedy I experience, my God is big enough to loosen my sad clothes & replace them with glad ones... and that I would one day dance again!

Are you tracking your progress for these kinds of loose clothing?  Where do you stand?

I must admit - I'm still on the journey - but working towards it every day!

Even If...

I posted this on my church website today...

Even If...

This morning I was reading about Josiah in the Old Testament.  Josiah was an amazing king.  He became king at the age of 8 years old and by age 16 he was cleaning house!  Meaning, he truly began to seek the Lord with all his heart.  He put into action what he felt in his heart.

Most of you know the story of Josiah.  He was the young king who commissioned the leaders to clean out the temple.  In this cleaning they found "a book".  Yes, it was the Book of the Law!  King Josiah listened to the words read to him from this "book" and was devastated at how far the people had drifted from the Lord.  He tore his clothes in response to what he heard.

He inquired the wise counsel of a prophetess, Huldah.  She did confirm that the devastation that was prophesied in the Bible would indeed come.  However, she gave this word of hope to Josiah...

2 Chronicles 34: 26-28 (ESV)

"But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord....

Regarding the words that you have heard, because your heart was tender

and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and its inhabitants,

and you have humbled yourself before Me and have torn your clothes and wept before Me,

I also have heard you, declares the Lord.  Behold I will gather you to you fathers,

and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace

and your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place and its inhabitants."

Lesson #1: We too need to seek the Lord with all our heart and humble ourselves before God.  In fact I see a little list forming here:

1.  Seek the wise counsel of the Lord

2.  Be humbled at His word

3.  Hear His Word

4.  Weep before the Lord

5.  Demonstrate how we have messed up

6.  Make your heart tender toward the Lord

And look at what God did for Josiah in response:  Peace.  His eyes would not see all the disaster that was planned!  What an amazing promise.  

Wouldn't you like to hear something like that from God?  "Humble yourself before me, and you will see no disaster!"  

Where can I get in line to "humble myself"?  I'm totally up for seeing no disaster!!!

Lesson #2:  We can totally copy Josiah's obedience to God's Word - but we need to allow God to do an individual work in our lives.  This was God's promise for Josiah.  Even if God has a different plan for you - TRUST HIM!!!

I know we have all seen more disaster in our lives than we thought we would see.  And I would imagine there's even more to come.  However, I believe that we are still to follow the list above - seek Him, be humbled before Him, hear His word and TRUST.

I heard a song this week that illustrates no matter what - we can still praise Him.  I know that many of you are praying for a miracle to come in your life.  You've been praying for this relief from disaster for quite some time.  It could be for physical healing, emotional healing, financial relief...  What if no relief comes?  What then?  What if in the midst of following the list above - we still see disaster?  What happens to our faith?

It would be really easy to get mad and be jealous of Josiah.  However, we must belief the truth - that God is for us!

Psalm 56:9 (ESV)

This I know, that God is for me.

Listen to this song and let it minister to you today as is has done for me.