Going to the dump...

Where I live, it's country.  Not 100 miles from anywhere country.  But country enough that the mail person uses their personal car for delivery.  And enough that I can either pay someone to come get my trash, or take it to the dump myself.

As we have a tight budget, pass the dump on the way to town, and only have a bag of garbage about once a week, we opt for doing it ourselves.

I have a little loop through our town I like to take.  Hit the library.  Hit the post office.  Hit the dump.  Go to the "city." So the other day the kids and I started off...library, check.  Post office, check.  City...check.  

Wait a minute...I forgot the dump.  When I parked at Costco, I remembered it.  My little thermometer in my car said 100 degrees.  

I think that was the fastest Costco trip I ever made.  And even so, did my car ever stink! 

Sin...it's like that.  You're doing what you should, but all the while you're toting around some nasty junk.  And it's either got to go, or it's going to ruin your life.

Jesus died to take it.  All you need to do is head on over to the cross, drop to your knees and ask Him.  

P.S.  I did eventually get that garbage to the dump.  And I think it took about a week for my car to totally air out!

Unleashed...for real

"Unleashed by Garo" is a little show I found on Hulu.  I'm sure it's on some network somewhere, but I'm don't really watch things when they come on...  Anyhow, Garo is going to unleash the "true person" through his couture design.  


I'm watching him talk to the woman in question; noting the fear and discouragement in her eyes.  I mean, I feel a bit fearful every time I walk past the makeup counters in the mall, hoping they won't notice that I forgot to mascara both eyes that day because one of the kids decided to color on the walls and I got distracted.  How much more intimidating must it be to meet with someone who designs high fashion clothing for models and celebrities   


Anyhow, he promises to unleash the true woman.  With some color changes, with a bit of corseting, with a trip to the hairdresser, makeup artist, nail salon and of course, the pièce de résistance, the new dress, her true self will be revealed.


But what happens after the big reveal?  Once the dress is carefully removed and placed in the closed, the corset is removed so the love handles can once again hang, the makeup and the rest are washed off in the shower?  Has she been lost?  Is she once again a being hidden in a brown sweater and jeans, unable to shine?


Lovely clothing does make us feel lovely and perhaps outgoing for a time.  And every time I've had a makeover, the folks doing it have been so loving and complimentary, that I felt beautiful and not self-conscious at all.  But none of that lasts. The clothing wears out.  The makeup washes off.  And there I am, back with me...again.


One thing revealed my true inner self.  One moment in my life changed me.  And it had nothing to do with how I looked...because that never changed.  That moment...it was when I realized who I was to God.  And I accepted that.  And I surrendered to Him.  And He filled me.  


My anger was erased by his love.  My shyness overwhelmed by His beauty.  My suicidal thoughts overcome by His healing grace and mercy.  I was a new creation, in one second.  


And that change is eternal.