It's a New Year...

Praise God! I have made it through another year. I have to say I did increase my Bible reading and scripture study time considerably! As God has promised, being in His Holy Word I reap the benefits.

About 1 1/2 years ago God pressed on my heart about my dress code. LOL And last year with several situations it became apparent I need to look and act more like a lady. Yet, I did not fully submit to God's calling. Oh, I wanted to but I kept coming up with these great excuses. During the winter it was the cold. (Oh, and some sweet ladies who wear dresses told me what to do, I just refused to try). Well a few weeks ago we went to an auction, in the snow and cold. I wore my long-johns under my tights and my long heavy jean skirt. The girls wore their snow pants and got cold, I could hardly believe how warm I kept. LOL I was laughing at myself. I really felt warmer than I did when I wore jeans in that weather. For about a month now I have been wearing dresses and skirts. Now don't go and think I am such a great person for making this step. I gained back the weight I had lost, and as I had lost the weight I got rid of my 'fat' clothes. I didn't have anything but skirts that I could fit into. I did look, I refused to pay cash for 'fat' clothes, and all God provided was skirts and dresses.

During this time, the thought of purchasing pants crossed my mind. I had not felt God impressing on me to make the dress code change any more. Then I heard the wonderful gentle Holy Spirit talking to me. Don't you just love how gentle and yet commanding He can be. Well, I was told, 'I told you to do it. I do not need to repeat or keep telling you what to do. ' I remembered what my Grandpa (who died when I was 9) always told me, "Dawn, Obey the first time." So all this time I have been in rebellion. Yuck. I wonder, if I had obeyed the first time would other situations been easier to handle. Hum... Well, today I removed my pants from the house (except two pairs of sweats I use to exercise in, I am still to big to not have clothing between my thighs when I exercise, and my long-johns -I figure long-johns have to be ok, under a skirt.) Writing this I am wondering about the sweats, well time will tell.

I do pray that God will do what ever to help me obey. And God was faithful again. He was patient, gave me more than enough time to obey. You know I would have thought the eating thing would have taken priority. Yet, God used my overeating to get me to be obedient in another area. It sure does impress upon me to obey the first time. During this situation several things that God has told me to do and I have not done have come to mind. They do push me out of my comfort zone, even scare me a bit. I am going to have to trust in God to give me what I need to obey. He has promised He will.

So, any great hostess' out there? I will heed your suggestions. Dawn