Jul. 21, 2008 - Monday Meanderings & Cross Dressing
Monday Meanderings with
My to-do list this week:
Bible Study/Devotions: I just started a new study today called Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud and John Townsend. I plan to study that some more this week, along with the other studies I am doing.
Must Do: Make 2 doctor appointments for dd. One for her yearly check-up and one for her eye 
exam.
exam. Special Projects:
1. Monday: My parents will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in September, so Mom & I will be going out to start buying things for the big open house we are planning. She is also going to take dd and I out to eat at Chili's as a late birthday present for dd since that is her favorite restaurant. 
2. I need to start addressing over 100 envelopes for the invitations to the open house. Might need the 
to help me on that one. 
to help me on that one. 3. Wednesday -- Eat out! 
The gals on my mom's side of the family meet once a month to celebrate whoever has birthdays for that month. We will be eating at a Chinese restaurant. (I also ate at this restaurant nearly once a week for the first 5 months when I was pregnant with dd!) 
Did I really just admit that on a public blog? 
The gals on my mom's side of the family meet once a month to celebrate whoever has birthdays for that month. We will be eating at a Chinese restaurant. (I also ate at this restaurant nearly once a week for the first 5 months when I was pregnant with dd!) Did I really just admit that on a public blog? 4. I also plan to get to the grocery store and purchase what I need to make a spumoni cake. 
Do any of you remember those from Roselyn's Bakery? They are wonderful! If mine turns out well, I will share the recipe on a Tightwad Tuesday post. 
Do any of you remember those from Roselyn's Bakery? They are wonderful! If mine turns out well, I will share the recipe on a Tightwad Tuesday post. Train Them Up: Talk to dd about a couple of issues that I won't go into on a public blog. 
Menu Planning: My menu plan is done through the middle of August.
Cross Dressing
When my daughter was only ten years old, we had the unfortunate experience of running into a drunken cross-dresser. I really did not care to have her exposed to this kind of lifestyle at such a young age. To complicate matters even more, I had to explain to her why this man, who attends our church, is dressed like a lady.
After returning home, the Lord revealed to me that all Christians, at one time or another, have been guilty of being cross-dressers. The difference is that our cross-dressing does not affect our clothing, but our spirit.
Christians are commanded to put on garments of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love. (Colossians 3:12-14)
As I read that verse, I began to think of the many times my husband has needed a compassionate, listening ear. Instead, I dressed myself in a garment that said, “I am too busy to listen to you right now.”
How many times have we been in a long line at the grocery store, only to offer the cashier rudeness instead of kindness?
Instead of putting on humility, we choose a prideful garment. Even though we may not be speaking our prideful thoughts audibly, God hears, and He is not pleased. (Proverbs 8:13; First Peter 5:5)
I can think of several times when my daughter has struggled with a new concept in school. As her teacher, and even more so, as a Christian, I should offer her gentleness. Instead, I put on harshness or a critical spirit.
When we are trying to get out the door, and the rest of the family is poking along, how often are we patient with them? If we are honest, most of us would be embarrassed to admit how often we put on the garment of impatience.
Patience seems to be one of those garments that we would rather not wear. It seems to fit about as comfortably as a tight-fitting girdle. Instead, we opt for impatience, which often shows itself through anger, rudeness, rage, foul language, and very discernable body language.
We are to be dressed in love, yet how do we act when a dirty, smelly person visits our church? Do we put on the garment of love? Or do we turn aside, pretending they are not there?
When we get dressed, we may look through our closet and think, “I do not feel like wearing this outfit today.” I think we also do this with the garment of love. We tend to think that love is a feeling. If we do not feel like wearing it, we will tend to put on bitterness, anger, unforgiveness, rudeness, selfishness, and a critical spirit.
I was really disgusted by the sight of the drunken cross-dresser. However, after allowing the Holy Spirit to show me many occasions where I have guilty of cross-dressing, I am more disgusted with my own behavior.
Father, help me to daily put on the Lord Jesus so that I can cease to be a cross-dresser. Amen. (Romans 13:14)
© 2007, Stacy R. Miller
Comments
Jul. 21, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by hsfamily
Good devotional! It makes you think outside the box - considering wrong actions that we need to take a look at in our own lives. Thanks for sharing!
Hope you have a great week!
Karen
www.homeschoolblogger.com/salt
www.homesteadblogger.com/tagblog
