Inward Adorning

I had just fixed my hair the previous night, touched up my make up and I stepped out of the house walking towards the car, I saw the same guy staring at me, he had that same sheepish smile and he said "wassup?". I had a frown and was thoroughly disgusted, early in the morning, guess he does not have a work to go to and without any doubt my anger was rising and it affected the way I walked or should I say stomped... I was about 10 feet from my car and he sauntered leisurely after me. I rested my bag and folder on the car so I could open the car and he said "those who are pretty and smile don't have anyone to ask them out how much more you, you have tied your whole face in a difficult knot"...

I was fuming unsure of how to respond to him, but I made up my mind I wasn't going to give him any audience, I got into my car and slammed the door. He smiled as he walked away... he had messed up my whole day as every other person and event got on my nerves that day. I went into the washroom and could not help but stare at myself in the mirror, the silly guy's words rang in my ears, do I frown that often? Is it true that I have not found a man because of the way I wear a straight/tight face? So why did he get to me like this? I was so upset and frustrated.

Later that night I decided to have a personal time with the Lord. Lord I worship you, what is it about me that does not really make me desirable to a godly man? I prayed and wept and asked God to bring me the right person and on time too. I had a restful night. As I was getting ready for work that morning, it was a Friday and I was quite excited; TGIF. I remembered my "friend's" comment and smiled. I said to myself I will smile all day today...
I was not sure exactly what I was smiling about but I kept smiling refusing to get upset about anything. Everyone complemented me on how beautiful I looked that day and I could not but wonder what I did differently. People told me I glowed, my hair was nice (never mind I did it a couple of days earlier), someone asked me what perfume I wear and so on. Some of my friends asked me if I wanted to join them for dinner but I couldn't. I got home and I felt different.

As I prayed that night thanking God for such a great day, the Holy Spirit reminded me how my inner adorning made all the difference and enhanced my outward adorning. A smile was the inner adorning? Yes, part of it but it was more of my resolution to please God and be like Him regardless of what is going on or at stake

1 Peter 3:4 NKJV "Rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is very precious in the sight of God".

So, it is not so much of our makeup, wig, designer wears, shoes, bags or perfumes that make us who we are. The kind of beauty that God respects is such that comes from the inside and radiates so brightly on the outside. Kind words, Godly disposition, going the extra mile to help and assist. These qualities attract others to the God in us, so for those who walk around with faces knotted in a frown, try a smile, it enhances your looks. We are God's ambassadors, let us represent Him well with our inner adornment.

Have a Godly and smiley day! :)

Master-Servant

Here is your to-do list for today and please do finish before I get back... I might have a guest sleep over, so, I need the whole house looking spic and span. Yes ma. She responded and walked briskly towards the kitchen to carry out her assignment This is not an uncommon scenario when we talk about the relationship between a master and his servant or a madam and her maid or house help.

A servant is expected to demonstrate total obedience when serving his master. In the part of the country where I come from the maid is not expected to have a mind of her own or a personal agenda, whatever Madam says is the order of the day. A whole lot of us are still servants and we readily say yes sir or yes ma to our master...

Rom 6:16 God's Word Translation
"Don’t you know that if you offer to be someone’s slave, you must obey that master? Either your master is sin, or your master is obedience. Letting sin be your master leads to death. Letting obedience be your master leads to God’s approval".

According to the above passage, we have a choice in the matter, we decide by our actions who our master is. Every time I say yes to lust, lie, causing offences, distrupting someone else's progress or life, forging figures, loot sharing, flirting with someone elses wife or husband and indulgence in besetting sins, I am acknoweldging sin as my master. The fact that we do not see it with a big cane hitting us on the head does not change the fact that it is the one controlling us. How many big people; leaders, politicians, pastors, executives have made sin their master and by so doing destroyed their careers,homes and ministry.

God has paid the price and redeemed us through His own son, let us severe our link to sin so we can walk in freedom, no longer under the slavery of the enemy. This new week let us make up our minds not to sign up for slavery classes under sin. If the son has set you free, you are free indeed!!!

Have a blessed week.

Winning Game

Do you not realize that I represented my high school in debates? As a matter of fact, I am a trained lawyer. When it comes to issues like this it will show a level of respect if you just let sleeping dogs lie her husband responded. As she confided in her mother, she could not help but cry, why does every discussion have to end in arguments and guess what? He always has to win.

I am not in a competition and neither am I claiming to be a member of a debating society. This is my home and I would appreciate a level of peace and ability to carry out a civil conversation with my own husband without feeling am competing to win a game.

Ps. 133:1 NKJV

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren (spouses) to dwell together in unity!

Oftentimes when you listen to couples who have disagreements, they both are trying to make a point but the method is what usually drives the direction the argument or discussion will go. Each person tries to win the argument and by so doing, someone gets nasty and the other party will not want to go down without a fight. Is it worth it? You do not have to win every argument!

I remember the days when I had the time and strength to talk nineteen to a dozen! I worked hard at winning... I mean arguments are meant to be won! These days I ask myself, how many trophies have I earned for the many arguments I have won? Has anyone congratulated me for having the right responses?

I have heard people say silence is golden... quite true, when you are in a marriage relationship all you sometimes need to guarantee peace is silence. Someone tells me "he thinks am stupid because I do not talk" Maybe you have been talking to the wrong person!

You may have to change whom you have conversations with for you to truly win...

Does your husband's tongue cut you deeper than a surgical razor? Does your wife's comment make you feel totally inadequate? Address issues first in the realm of the spirit before saying them in the physical. What if it is impromptu? Do I have to pray to discuss household chores? Silence is golden when your point is not getting across! I marvel at the level of control I have these days just because I have lessened the number of arguments I engage in!

When you converse with God over any issue, I mean any... without any doubt you will have processed the words through God's fire and it will have the right impact. Is 6:6 the coal from God's altar needs to touch our tongue for purification.

When you talk to God first, you are bound to win the game!