Garments




	WRITE 2 THE HEART Stories that are aimed "Write 2 the Heart" April 10, 2003 Cheryl Speir, Editor, moderator@write2theheart.com ----------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to your latest issue of "Write 2 the Heart" You are receiving this newsletter because you requested a subscription or a friend generously forwarded their copy to you. To subscribe send a blank e-mail to subscribe@write2theheart.com. ------------------------------------------------------------ Betty reminds us to check our garments, our spiritual garments. Why do you suppose Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves for a garment? Have you ever had a fig leaf touch your skin? It's not the greatest feeling thing to have on your skin. ------------------------------------------------------------ Garments By Betty King ------------------------------------------------------------ They say you can tell a lot about a person by the garments they wear. I use to love clothes. I still do actually. Just not most of the ones I have to wear. I used to be much thinner than I am now. I could go into a store and go to the size I wore and be pretty certain it would fit. I now have Multiple Sclerosis and have gained many more pounds than makes me happy. The medicine I have been on for years has helped to further my poundage. I cannot truthfully blame it all onto the medicine, but it has certainly contributed. Anyway, if you have ever browsed around in the Plus size department of a ladies clothing store you have a pretty good idea why I am not really fond of most of my garments. "I don't have anything to wear." My husband has heard me utter that phrase, more than any other in the forty-five years we've been married. Well, maybe the words, I love you, would run a pretty close tie. But, let's just say he has heard my distress signal enough times he knows what is next, when he hears the first two words, "I don't..." come out of my mouth. With some people clothes are not a big deal. Just give some men a pair of old jeans and a favorite sweatshirt and they could care less. Other people are always duded out in the latest of fashions. Just think, if Eve had not eaten of the forbidden fruit and given it to Adam, and he too tasted it, we would not have a garment problem. They became aware of their nakedness after partaking of the fruit, and sewed themselves clothes, designed from fig leaves. (Genesis 3: 7 NIV) It was after they hid from God in the garden, when they heard Him walking there, that God saw them and made them garments of skins. He told them of the punishment they and all generations after them would have to endure. (Genesis 8: 24 NIV) I am not quite sure how we have evolved from fig leaves to expensive designer clothes though. If I don't out grow my clothes, I usually wear them out. Sometimes, I wear an item of clothing so often because it is a favorite of mine, or the only thing that feels good, or fits well, and I wash it till it is worn completely out. The Bible talks often of garments wearing out. In (Isaiah 51: 6 NIV) it speaks of the Heavens vanishing like smoke and the earth wearing out like a garment, but Gods salvation last forever. What a guarantee that is. They don't have tags stating warranties like that, on any of my clothes I buy. It is wonderful to know salvation won't wear out or wash off, it is a gift that last forever. We need only confess our sins and believe upon God's son Jesus Christ, whose blood on the cross covered our sins. (Romans 10: 8-12, TLB, tells us the plan of salvation) The Bible talks about garments of praise instead of the garment of despair and also the garment of salvation (Isaiah 61, NIV). These are the garments we as Christians should be concerned with wearing. We must remember when we do away with our old sinful garments and put on new garments of salvation, we present ourselves as a representative of Him who has clothed us. We should be robed in righteousness, so we can be prepared for anything Satan may tempt us with. I am glad the garment of salvation does not depend on the size of my anatomy; it always fits no matter the weight that I've lost or gained. It never wears out and it gets more beautiful the longer we wear it. We should never forget the garments of Jesus. Because of our sins His garments were blood stained. In (John 19: 24 NIV), it tells how the soldiers cast lots for the garments of Jesus. I guess it is true after all, you can tell a lot about the person from the garments they wear. We should be more concerned if our clothes are spiritual garments or the latest in fashions. With spiritual garments we never have to say, "I don't have anything to wear." Thank you Jesus for the spiritual garments of salvation. May I always wear them well, and represent your love as you would have me. May I put on your robe of righteousness so that Satan will know that I am a child of yours. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. Betty King baking2 @ charter.net You are encouraged to write to the authors to let them know what you think of their story, just remember to remove the space before and after the @ symbol. The space is placed in the address to protect our writers from viruses and email harvesting programs. Have a comment on today's story? Send it to: moderator@write2theheart.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- Betty King has lived with MS for over thirty-six years. She is the author of, "It Takes Two Mountains to Make a Valley". She has a story in the new "Chicken Soup for the Mother and Daughter Soul", just released. Read more about her and her writing on her website, www.betty.newsmoose.com. Betty and her husband of 45 years live with their dog Missy in Illinois. -------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------- Letters From Our Readers -------------------------------------------------------------- Awesome piece, Bob. Written with tenderness for all of us who have ever loveda pet, witha special touch to those of us who have thrown pride to the wind and attempted to resuscitate a tiny lifeless animal. Whether breathing realness and vitality into a life story or life-giving breath into a tiny pup, theblessing is more than worth the effort. Lisa Easterling Freelancing in beautiful Tampa Bay www.lisaeasterling.com www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=Ladyblue1 I truly enjoyed Bob's story about "Fluffy." It so reminds me of myself and my house pets, especially my deceased cat Midnight with her first litter, as well as Precious and "his" first litter.Over the years, I've had an abundance of cats, dogs, birds, fishand ferrets. Yes, they all loved one another: even the fish!Today, I thoroughly enjoy being ruled by two ferrets, Cocoa and his Princess. A dear friend once said, "Bonnie, I do believe God made you one of His little keepers of animals." I believe she was right. Very well written, Bob! Bonita M Quesinberry, R.C. Author of "Today, Jesus Said" LIGHTHOUSE OF PRAYER: Director http://www.geocities.com/pen_for_god/lighthouse.html What a sweet story by Bob Shaw. Fluffy surely had a special connection with Ronnie. This just shows how intelligent our four-legged friends really are. ~ Pamela Jenkins --------------------------------------------------------------- Military Prayer Reminder --------------------------------------------------------------- As you read over this list of names, please take that moment to pray for these young people and their families: Chris Speir Tim Speir Alan Thaddeaus Howard Todd Holland Graham William Julie Sagel Jessie Marshal Thompson Jason Please continue to pray for our country, our leaders, and our troops at this time. If you have loved ones in the military, or who are being called to go overseas, send their names (first and last or first only) to be included in our prayer reminder. --------------------------------------------------------------- Chocolate Alert! I know that got your attention! I am working on a chocolate cookbook to be given away on Write 2 the Heart's web site. This work in progress is tentatively called "Write 2 the Heart of the Chocolate Lover." Anyone who would like to join in the delicious fun, send a chocolate recipe with a brief bio to be included after each recipe. Send as many as you wish. --------------------------------------------------------------- Cheryl's Corner I had wanted to take a picture of my back yard to show you. The yellow Louisiana irises were blooming and it looked like a golden cloud had descended on my back yard. Unfortunately, bad weather pulled in with high winds, heavy rains, spawning tornadoes. I now have a yellow carpet. Speaking of flowers, I planted a huge amaryllis bulb in the back yard. It was larger than a softball. The dog dug it up and I haven't a clue as to what she did with it. I searched the yard over and can't even find a piece of it. Do you suppose she ate it? God Bless, Cheryl ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- © 2003 Write 2 the Heart Nothing may be reproduced or published without the written permission of the individual author or copyright owner. All rights belong to the authors.