Tuesday, September 10, 2024

DRESS

 

Dear All of Us,

One of the first things 

most of us need  

to figure out 

each morning is

"What shall 

I ware today?"


Not me.

Never has been.

For the first half 

of my adult life 

it was 

required black, 

toe to top,

with a tiny 

window of white

fronting Adam's apple.

With a midlife

denominational reset

came a new uniform.

This one self-selected.

        L.L.Bean 

all the way and always.

        L.L.Bean 

khaki slacks,

light blue shirt, 

navy blue sweater.

Day in, day out.

Summers the sweater 

switched out for a

navy blue polo shirt.

Simple and durable

and that's how I hope

I am inside as well.


Whatever our daily garb,

we do well

to follow the fashion 

put forth by Paul.

  Colossians 3:12-14

   The Message

It's dress for success.

It's being dressed to the nines

and mighty more.

It's dress up - really UP.

It's how to address life, 

within and without.

It's putting on Christ in practice:


"So, chosen by God..." 

   - We are God selected. 

   - It doesn't get more special 

     and we really are! 

   - Talk about making the team!

   - Feel what that means!

"...for this new life of love,..."

     - This is a major change 

     of more than socks or status.

   - A completely new life, 

     top to bottom, 

     inside and out.

  - 100% made of Love 

     and that's divine 

    (God is love - 1 John 4:8)

"...dress in the wardrobe 

 God picked out for you: 

   - Clear out all the old closets 

     of attitude, approach, 

     value and action ware.

   - God has a whole new 

     life arrangement 

             and 

     arraignment for you.

  - Inside and out 

    be decked out 

    in what God has

    picked out for you.

  - Check it out.

  - Put it on.

   - It's a perfect fit 

   for the new you.

"...compassion,..."

   - Get real close.

  - Feel what others are feeling.

  - A tight fit.

  - Get so close, 

    care so much, 

    that you'll be one 

    in God's Oneness.

"...kindness,..."

  - Embrace our "kin"- ness.

  - We all have 

    the same DNA - God's.

 - "Do unto others as 

    you would have done 

    unto you" (Matthew 7:12) 

    because we are one,    

    because degrees of separation 

    are not core. 

    At worst they are 

    illusions of alienation. 

    At best they honor 

    uniqueness in unity.

    We are woven one.

"...humility,..."

  - We're all made of 

     the same humus and

     in the same image of God.

  - Live a circle, never a pyramid.

  - That deserves 

    more than a second look:

    Live a circle, never a pyramid. 

"...quiet strength,..." 

  - It's a tight weave, durable.

  - "I can do all things in him 

     who strengthens me." 

       (Philippians 4:13)

  - No bombast or posturing required.

"... discipline..." 

  - Never a know it all.

  - A life learner -

   (L)"disciplina" learning.

  - Learn the way and walk it.

  - Appropriate, disciplined measure 

    in all things.

"...Be even-tempered,..." 

    - Steady as we go.

    - That way we'll get 

      where we need to go.

   - No flash floods or outbursts 

     in attitude or behavior.

" ...content with second place,.."

   - There is no such thing 

     in a circle of unity.

   - Growth is from the bottom up

     in that circle of unity.

   - "The first shall be last and

      the last shall be first." 

        (Matthew 20:16)

   - linier living 

       (Me first, you last")

       needs to get 

      straightened out to 

      circular oneness -

      product paradox.

      

"...quick to forgive an offense. 

Forgive as quickly and 

completely as 

the Master forgave you."

     - Forgive - "give for" the other 

       what was lost,

       ripped out in the hurt.

     - Develop a quick reflex for it.

     - No pauses that don't refresh.

     - No half measures. 

     - Half a bridge 

       doesn't do it. 

     - Nothing halfhearted.

       Half a heart is dead.

    - Check out Jesus and 

       check into his quick, 

       complete forgiveness.

   - To get out of a ditch 

     and back on the road 

     a car needs a complete 

     set of four tires. 

     Only complete does it.

    - no loose threads 

      in our threads.

"...And regardless of 

what else you put on, 

wear love. It's your basic, 

all-purpose garment. 

Never be without it."

 - "God is love" (1 John 4:8)

 - Be all wrapped up in it.

 - It's so basic 

   that without it 

   anything we put on 

   is like putting on 

   a scarf when we are 

   buck naked.

- Love is all purpose, 

  all weather. 

- Ware love. It's woven of 

  recognition, respect, 

  care, unity.

- It never wares out

  and you won't either.

            

Hey, we are going

to look so good, 

so well put together

because we sure 

know how to

        DRESS  

       ******  


NEXT ONLINE POSTING

      Tuesday Afternoon/Evening

      East Coast USA Time

      September 17. 2024

 

      

NEXT EMAIL DELIVERY

       Friday

       September 20, 2024


           WELCOME 

                to

       frankly speaking

   spirituality for the street

johnfrankshares.blogspot.com

A special Hello to the group from

               IRAN

that blessed us with their presence

this week.


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    THANKS 

for passing on

frankly speaking.

I's a big help and 

much appreciated.


Really neat to be with 

such well dressed folks.

See you next week.

    Love to all.

    God Bless,

   John Frank

     ******