Extending Her Hand

The excellent wife loves others. She extends hers hand to shake their hand. She extends her hand to pull them up out of the pit. She extends her hand to embrace them. She extends he hand in peace. She extends her hand to show them she is not a threat. She extends her hand in love. To whom can you extend you hand today?

Time To Get Dressed

I don't know about you, dear reader, but I really love reading through Colossians. Each little serving of a few verses each has been a rich meal for me. Today, as I read chapter 3 verses 12 through 17, it was a feast that makes Thanksgiving dinner look meager. I only want to touch on one verse here today for fear of overeating. Perhaps, after I have finished blogging through the rest of Colossians, I will come back and feast on the leftovers.

But, now it's time to get dressed. Not for a night out on the town, but perhaps in our Sunday best. And not just on Sunday, but every day for the rest of our lives.

We must get dressed because we are chosen by God. He sought us out. He set us apart. We are dearly loved. We are His Bride!

We should put on a heart of mercy. Are you compassionate? Reach out to those in need. Share love with them. What do they need? Share it with them.

Put on kindness. In a world full of grumpy, got to get things done, me first people, smile at them. Say nice words to them. Turn their frowns upside down.

Dress yourselves with humility. Don't think the worst of yourself. Remember you are loved by God. But, consider others higher than yourself. Put their needs before your own. Jesus came to serve. You can too.

Wear gentleness. Don't be a bull in a china shop. Don't tremble in fear as if you're walking on eggshells. But walk strong and gentle as if you are cuddling and caring for a dearly beloved newborn babe.

Clothe yourself with patience. Life does not come with guaranteed overnight shipping. Not everything gets done in the microwave oven in under five minutes at full power. Some things take time. Wait for it. Always anticipate that God is still at work and wait patiently acting in faith that what He is doing will be brought to completion.

Are you dressed now? Well, take a look at yourself in the mirror and smile. You're beautiful!

Compassion

While reading Exodus 2 this morning - the story of Moses being pulled out of the water and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter - I was struck by the compassion Pharaoh's daughter had. She must have been well aware of her father's hatred of the Hebrews and his attempts to kill the Hebrew baby boys and yet when the basket was pulled out of the water, she had compassion for the baby. The Hebrew word used here chamal means to spare, to pity, to have compassion on. It's a verb - not an adjective. She didn't just feel compassionate, she acted! This baby was supposed to die, but she spared him. Not only did she spare him, but she adopted him into her family and raised him as her own. Isn't that what God has done for us? Our sins bring us the penalty of death. But God, in His mercy and compassion, spares us. Not only does He spare us, but He also has adopted us into His family!

Do I have that kind of compassion? Honestly, I think I come up way short in regards to compassion. My prayer today is that God would grow that compassion in my heart. I pray that it would not just be something I feel, but something I do!

I'm reading Exodus as part of the Good Morning Girls reading through Exodus. Join in if you will.