this little $25 treat from none other than J.Crew.
Shut up.
And this was on the front:
Um, yes, I do have spring fever as a matter of fact. Cold weather is fine for the penguins, but not for me. Arctic Blast, Shmarctic Blast. I am over it.
So anyway, back to that little temptation that showed up in my mailbox today....at first I was feeling all sorry for myself. Back in the day(3 1/2 months ago) I would have had that $25 spent before the mailman had our mailbox closed. But no, I had to agree to this fast which prohibits me from using it. Then I started to feel a little sly, trying to justify my way into using this. Like if I only spent $25 then it would be ok. Or maybe perhaps I could find a sweet little something for one of my girls. You know, something that they really need from J.Crew so that it would meet my man's requirements. I mean, who would even really know, or care for that matter if I did use it. Honestly, you all have enough going on that a new shirt in my closet is the least of your worries.
But then I remembered all that stuff that I just took out of my closet, and how I was still living in plenty, and how I could easily fill another box to give away.
Blessed to be a blessing...not blessed to consume to your hearts content...even if a $25 gift card to J.Crew is involved.
I read in Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young, just 1 day ago this little nugget: "Advertising capitalizes on the longing of people for a positive focus in their lives. I(Jesus) planted that longing in human souls, knowing that only I could fully satisfy it."
You all get this, right? I've been preaching to the choir for the last 3 1/2 months, so I know you get it. And I am starting to too.
Last night my man and I loaded many, many boxes into the Many Hands 4 Haiti trailer. I was tired, hungry, and a little chilly after we had that last box stacked on top of a pile. But you know what, I was also in awe of how many of you have answered the call to bless others.
You see, I could not have ever filled a trailer on my own. But by saying 'yes' to God the end of October, I was also saying 'yes' to God no matter what else He brought my way.
When we say 'yes' to God, we are telling Him, "your way, not mine." And you never, never know what that will mean until He leads down a path that you could have never walked on your own. Never even dreamt about without His guidance.
And the funny thing about God is that He wants to lead us, even longs to. Because He knows that "as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."(Isaiah 55:9, NIV)
And if I can find comfort and put my faith in a free gift card to a fun store versus my Lord, then I have totally missed the mark, and I have let the devil back into my heart. I am not quite ready for that to happen, or else this has all been done in vain.
Ephesians 4:22-24 says, "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
God is not done leading me...and I certainly am not done following.
Carry on.
Please note that I know this is my 2nd post of the day, and quite frankly, I also know that I'm not that cool...but that gift card isn't going to last long(I'm currently selling it to the highest bidder), so this post had to get out.
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