Designer Clothes and Filthy Rags

What would you do if I told you that you have the option to wear custom-made, beautiful, designer clothes, or you could wear dated, dirty, ugly clothes? I don't know what you would do, but I'd go for the designer clothes. Who wouldn't?

But many times we choose to hang on to the rags that we're used to instead of exchanging them for something magnificent. To understand what I mean, read the following verses.
 
"Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.

So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it."

Colossians 3:9-14 The Message 

I had read these verses many times, but when I read them in the Message today, they took on a whole new meaning. Maybe it was the clothing illustration that grabbed my attention, but I'm sure that God was in on it too.  

I like clothes. I like wearing something that fits me and stands out. I like pretty dresses and lace shirts. Yet even the most beautiful gown, extravagant jewels, gorgeous shoes, and flawless make up cannot even begin to compare with the wardrobe God has given me! He has in store for me "compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline." And the Little black Dress of God's style is love. No wardrobe is complete without it, and I should take it with me everywhere I go. 

How wonderful does that wardrobe sound! And, it will never go out of style or get holes or smell musty. They have God's label on them! And the best thing is, I didn't even have to pay for them! How many times have I wished for a true shopping spree? And God has given me the ultimate wardrobe re-do! 

In contrast, my old way of like is like a filthy set of ill-fitted, dated clothes, things I wouldn't be caught dead in. But somehow, I pick up one of those rags and put it on. I hold it close, under the illusion that it is good or at least unavoidable. Satan comes around and tries to sell me a shirt of comparison or a purse of pride. And sometimes I find myself taking his offer, which always comes at a price.

No! I do not need those ugly clothes! Take them off! Throw then in the fire! I never want to wear comparison again! Irritability is so not my color! Pride looks horrible on me! Greed clashes with the garment of love that God gave me! 

Today I ask God that He help us wear compassion instead of comparison, kindness instead of frustration, humility instead of pride, quiet strength instead of vanity, and discipline instead of laziness. I ask that He help us to realize how ugly those clothes really are, and how wonderful His wardrobe to us is. 

Let's have a bonfire. Let's burn those old clothes, representations of our old ways, and put on the shining clothes of God! Every time that we are tempted to put on a bird-hat of vanity, remember that we are already wearing a crown of love. Take that hat and throw it to the birds! (Not that birds will enjoy a hat of such ugly proportions)

Lord, I ask that you start many bonfires. I ask that you have some wardrobe makeovers. What Not To Wear better watch out, because God is coming through, remaking our whole being into something beautiful! 

In Jesus' name, I pray, knowing that You, Lord, are able to do immeasurably more than all I can imagine.

Hannah

Take Up Your Cross

I come to you with a question. At first, this question seems simple, but then it becomes harder and harder to answer. The question is: what are you willing to do for God?

Some people might answer: "Anything. I will do anything for God." Yet their life doesn't show the same kind of enthusiasm. Some people may want to be willing, but fear gets in the way. For myself, I struggle with letting go of comfort and letting God lead the way completely.

The truth is, God didn't save us so that we could read the bible and go to church. He saved us for so much more. Those things are not bad; in fact they are very good and necessary for a strong relationship with Christ, but they aren't everything. God created and saved us for so much more than a comfortable Christian life. God doesn't just want us to go to bible studies and tweet verses; He wants us to follow Him. 

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever wants looses their life for me will find it.'" Matthew 16:24-25

Now to understand this verse, we must first understand what Jesus means by "cross." When I think of cross I normally think of a large wooden cross, like the one Jesus died on, strapped to my back. I think of it almost like a heavy burden. But this thought doesn't seem to be consistent with the scriptures.

"For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:30

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1

So the cross isn't a burden; in fact, it is a rest. When we can't carry our crosses, it is because we are too busy holding on to everything else, things like pride, laziness, or possessions. These things are much heavier than the ways that God has planned. They weigh us down with worries and stress. We try so hard to keep things under control, and then everything falls to pieces around us.

 But, when we give these burdens to God in exchange for His cross, we experience freedom. All of a sudden, the pressure isn't on us. All we have to do is trust God. This life isn't always easy, and is often times very hard. But we are not doing it by ourselves. We have someone to lean on, Someone who never gets stressed or tired or confused. We end up becoming free in His wonderful love, free of those troubles that we tried to handle ourselves.

I have a challenge for you. I challenge you to let go of whatever you are holding on to and take up Christ's cross. It sounds so simple when I put it that way, but in reality, this requires sacrifice. We have to sacrifice our wants and desires. We have to let go of what little control we think we have on our lives. We have to daily give up what is normal and comfortable. But God is worth it. He is, in fact, the only thing worth our lives. Everything else will fail to compare.

So, will you day by day take up your cross and follow Jesus? Will you sacrifice your comforts and old ways of life for a new life full of joy in Christ? Let Christ lead you in an exhilerating and joyous journey with Him!

Hannah

The Most Amazing Story Ever Told

The above title may give you some questions. You may be thinking, "Hannah, it may be good, but your story can't be the most amazing story ever told." And you're right. My story isn't the most amazing story ever told. It's God's story that claims that title.

And so this afternoon, I will try to capture, in the best way that I can, the most amazing story ever told. And the thing that makes this story so wonderful, is that it is true! This really happened! Here is goes.

There once lived a little girl who lived in the Kingdom of Darkness. Why did she live there? She lived there because her family was a criminal family. Once, a long time ago, her family lived in the Kingdom of Light, where peace and glory reside, but they had disobeyed the King; they had tried to overthrow Him so that they could become kings themselves. And so they were banished to the Kingdom of Darkness.

This girl grew up in the Kingdom of Darkness, where the streets were filled with filth and muck. The kingdom was ruled by an evil Tyrant, who oppressed the people day and night.  Sin filled the kingdom, because it knew no other way. People lied, pretended, worried, bragged, stole, and even killed.

This girl had heard stories about the Kingdom of Light, and she wished and wished that she could go there. It sounded so nice compared to the despair that filled her world. But how could she get there? There was no road connecting the two kingdoms. And even if there was, she was far too dirty to walk the pure streets of the Kingdom of Light. She was a criminal. How could she ever live in the Kingdom of Light?

Her story would have ended there if the King of the Kingdom of Light hadn't stepped in. His heart broke for the girl trapped in the Kingdom of Darknes. But what would he do? He knew that the Tyrant over the Kingdom of Darkness wouldn't easily give over the girl. He also knew that in order to let her come into His kingdom, a road would have to be built, and He would have to wash her of her filth.

So He sent His Son.

The Prince of the Kingdom of Light build a road connecting the kingdoms. He stepped into the Kingdom of Darkness and walked among the people, telling them of the Good News that that they could enter into the Kingdom of Light. Even though He walked the grimy streets, His feet never got dirty. He never sinned.

The girl followed the Prince around everywhere, hanging on to His every word. He let her stay with Him, and told her much about the Kingdom of Light. She could hardly believe His words were true! But how would the Tyrant let her go? And she was still covered in dirt.

The Prince knew of the cost that must be paid in order to rescue the girl from the Kingdom of Darkness. He knew what the Tyrant would demand. The Tyrant would command death.

And so, the Prince offered Himself as a sacrifice for the girl. He died to save a criminal, a girl that had sinned against Him. The Tyrant drug the Prince through the streets, rejoicing in His death. The girl didn't know what to do. Her only hope had been crushed, beaten, and killed. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she was filled with despair.

But the Prince didn't stay dead.

Three days later there was a bright light coming from the very edge of the Kingdom of Darkness. The girl followed this light and before her eyes stood the Prince! He was alive! The girl ran towards Him with tears of joy, and He opened His arms to embrace her. He hugged her and cried with her.

"You are mine now," He whispered in her ear. "I will never let you go."

"But what about my filth?" she asked. She looked at herself and gave a scream of joy. She was clean! The Prince had made her clean!

"You are free from accusation and without blemish," the Prince said. "Now how about you come with me into my kingdom?"

She took His hand and she waked into the most beautiful place that she had ever seen! It was pure and loving and peaceful and righteous. He held her hand and guided her to the most splendid castle that she had ever seen.

"Where are we going?" she asked Him.

"We are going to meet your Father," the Prince said. The girl's stomach fluttered as she wondered what her new father would be like. She walked with the Prince into a large room with a throne standing in the middle. In that throne sat the King.

"Come here, my daughter," the King said.

"I don't understand," the girl said, "I am supposed to be meeting my new father." The King just smiled.

"I am your new father," He said. The girl could hardly believe her ears! Just a few hours ago she was criminal in the Kingdom of Darkness. Now she was a princess in the Kingdom of Light! Nothing nothing could ever describe the joy that she felt inside. She finally felt alive and loved and cared for.

"Thank you," she told the Prince. He just smiled.

"How can I repay you?" she asked.

"Just follow me," the Prince said. And so the girl did follow Him. Together they had many adventures and led many other people into the Kingdom of Light. It wasn't always easy, and there were many struggles, but the Prince never left her side, and the King always loved her. And so, the girl, who was once a criminal, but was now a princess, lived forever in the presence of her King.

And this story has no end.

"And giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgivness of sins."
Colossians 1:12-14

That my friends, is the Most Amazing Story Ever Told, because it is God's story to us! It is real!

Therefore, I write this as, not just Hannah, homeschooled ballerina, but as Hannah, daughter of the King!

Live in His story today, 

Princess Hannah