Candle Fire

I was sitting in Sunday school feeling pretty good about my Jamaica experience the prior week, then a pretty, "little", Christian friend spoke up. CONVICTION was lassoing my heart..."Pay attention, Anna." Don't you hate that? I guess I really don't but why???? I feel safe right now.

She shared that her husband and she met a person that was enduring some personal problems and needed Jesus. They left contact information with this individual and stated that he could call them if he needed them. The gentleman called on her husband for some time on her birthday. She admitted to being very upset and disturbed by the inconvenience of not having her husband at home with her to celebrate, which would also mean that she would be home with her 4 children alone. YET she told him to go and take care of this man's need for Jesus. She said to him, " If you are leaving me on my birthday, then you tell him about Jesus. Every word will be about Jesus. Stuff his head with Jesus."

All I could hear and see was beautiful, SELFLESSNESS! I had experienced selflessness the week prior, but I don't practice this "Jesus First" selflessness with my husband as often as I should. Do you think I would be worrying about "stuffing" someone's head with Jesus on my birthday?! How horrible I am! I would want Kevin stuffing his mouth with the creamy, white icing on my birthday cake! Ouch!!! This Christian woman said this in tears and with humbleness...she felt so horrible for even thinking of herself on her BIRTHDAY! I tell you, girlfriends, the ropes around my heart tying me to Jesus tightened. Whew!!

Then later on Sunday on the way to lunch, Jayden, asked her mom what "vain" meant. Brooke asked me today what I thought she should tell her. I was stunned not by the question but the answer...the definition. Here it is...

"Vain" per Merriam Webster
1: having no real value : idle, worthless vain pretensions
2: marked by futility or ineffectualness : unsuccessful, useless vain efforts to escape
3archaic : foolish, silly
4: having or showing undue or excessive pride in one's appearance or achievements : conceited
AND
— in vain
1: to no end : without success or result
2: in an irreverent or blasphemous manner

Ladies, I sat there Sunday morning feeling accomplished..achieved. My heart was just as "ugly" as it was before I left for Jamaica. There is truly nothing I can do to be righteous. My righteousness is like "filthy rags". It took a precious, selfless, humble, pretty, "little" (did I say "little" again? lol!) Christian sister to show me my sin. Not unlike the Ten Commandments, God will use His law, His people, or whatever He chooses to expose our sin. I am telling you, girlfriends, refinement...a very uncomfortable process, and unending till the day we see Him face to face.

Isaiah 64:5-7 (New Living Translation)

5 You welcome those who gladly do good,
who follow godly ways.
But you have been very angry with us,
for we are not godly.
We are constant sinners;
how can people like us be saved?
6 We are all infected and impure with sin.
When we display our righteous deeds,
they are nothing but filthy rags.
Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall,
and our sins sweep us away like the wind.
7 Yet no one calls on your name
or pleads with you for mercy.
Therefore, you have turned away from us
and turned us over[a] to our sins.


Have a nice evening, my friends. As for me, I have not only some Spiritual clean up but other "rags" in the laundry. Keep your heart open...He is moving amongst His people. Love you. acf