A Little Red Flag . . .

Well, lots has happened since I last wrote...where do I begin...You know the clothing business I was so joyfully getting into? Well...that turned out to be a smoke-screen from the enemy and I fell for it: hook...line...and sinker! I believe the enemy brings things to us that LOOK so perfect for us on the outside, yet, deeper down...there might be just one, small red flag attached....

It's that one, small red flag that I most needed to pay attention to and didn't. In fact, I completely dismissed it because of my pride, selfish ambition and falling prey to the temptations of the world...

Does that sound like a loaded paragragh when I'm just talking about a clothing business from home? Well, that's how the enemy got me to take the bait. I only blame myself for not paying attention to the little red flag. It doesn't even matter WHAT the little red flag was...the fact remains...when God puts a red flag in our path...it would be most wise to pay attention...stop....pray...wait and see what that red flag is ALL about. Had I done that...I would have never thrown myself into this full force and used 4 weeks of my life to go searching for something that only God can fulfill in me.

Suffice it to say, the show was a success and I don't feel badly about that. However, by Saturday morning, I had just about decided this was not the job for mine and Gary's life right now with him being in the busiest season of his career...so when I had to tell my manager and friend that I was not going to be able to do another show (October/Nov)...it was not good news for her. I really hate to disappoint people, but I have learned the hard way...it is better to disappoint people than disobey God. The consequences for disobeying God are much graver than the persecution of man. This was not an easy task for me, but something I HAD to do. It was between God and me at this point and I wasn't about to disobey Him again.

Friendships may be lost or broken when we choose to obey God over pleasing man, but my fear of God has grown much greater than my fear of man. Thank goodness! It has taken MANY years, but I'm finally getting there.

I encourage you to pay close attention to ANY red flag God has put before you. It is there for a very specific reason. Don't dismiss it. The consequences can be devestating...tis much better to obey in the beginning than apologize in the end. Blessings~

Love

Wow! It seems like it's been an eternity since I last wrote. Just watched the movie Eat, Pray, Love with my dear friend, Deb. What a great chick flick. It had a lot of neat points to it...one of which was when Liz was in Rome and a native explained how Americans work all the time, entertain, but don't know how to enjoy pleasure...that seems so utterly true of us...

I remember a time not too long ago when I could not enjoy anything for the constant under current of "guilt" that seemed to overtake me when joy knocked on my door. I am so thankful now that I can enjoy the things God has put before me as a blessing...such as a summer morning walk, watching Shorty sleep like a baby, hugging Gary when he gets home from work, a movie with a girlfriend on Friday afternoon, family who love me and family whom I love, great health, passion to live life to the fullest....the list goes on and on, but you get the drift.

I do believe God wants us to feel joy unspeakable, an ocean of passion and pleasure...yes! pleasure! Pleasure to one might be pain to another...thankfully, God knows the difference for each of us...lol!

For the past month, I have worked diligently searching for emails and phone numbers and addresses for women to invite to my Etcetera clothing show next week. Honestly, I had no idea how many hours would eventually go into all that, but I am not complaining. In fact, I am delighted at the connections God has put before me just because of this clothing business I decided to get into. It gives me great pleasure to be used by God in any way possible and I can see His hand at work at every turn. And to think He would use a clothing business? He cracks me up! I just love God's way of getting us connected to people He wants us to connect to. I'd been praying for about three months for a home-based business that I didn't have to start from the ground up AND something that I could use my passion to help others with....Voila`....a clothing business! Of course! Who knew?

I used to feel so insecure (still have some bouts on occasion), about myself and I sometimes even loathed my existence. It wasn't until I discovered how much God loves me that I was able to love myself AND forgive myself for my many mistakes in the past....and sometimes daily. Love heals everything, even self-loathing. But before I could love myself, Jesus loved me, unconditionally....then He brought Gary into my life and showed me unconditional love and THEN I was able to love myself completely....I had begun the process many years ago...but it wasn't complete yet. I don't think it takes a man to show us how to love ourselves....I'm not saying that at all....I would have eventually gotten there on my own...and in my own way, I did love myself...just not completely, like I do now. It sounds self-serving to even say that, but it isn't a self-serving kind of love I'm talking about. It's a kind of love that has grace attached to it so that when I make a mistake, I don't want to shut down and isolate from the world. It's a kind of love that has enough grace for me and others....that kind of love doesn't come from ourselves...it comes from ACCEPTING GOD'S unconditional love...He has enough to give me extra, so that I can give to others. Otherwise, it WOULD be only a self-serving love...

So, do you have enough self-love to give love to others? Or do you feel the need to hoard it all for yourself because you DON'T feel loved ENOUGH? If you're feeling a little low, go to the Source Who never runs dry....the God of the Universe....the King of all Kings....Christ....Your Savior Who loves you more than you could ever know....He's waiting for you with open arms....:)