Monday, March 4, 2013

A NEW ENGINE


(1 Peter 3:3-5),  Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.  Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful.
 
I can remember my first car.  I was so excited to have it that I drove all the way home singing a song to my car.  Mainly because I had no radio, but I was intended to use my pocket radio as soon as I got some AA batteries. LOL.  As soon as I got home, I ran upstairs to tell my parents to look out the window and see my new car, I was so proud.  They looked out the window and the look of wonder covered their faces because they didn't see a new car.  What they actually saw was a little 4-door, Nova, Chevrolet, covered in rust but what they didn't know was that it had a new engine.  I was still just smiling, admiring my new car.  My son was 4 at the time and I said, "Hey, mommy got a new car, we don't have to take the bus anymore."  I hurried and took him downstairs on the elevator and as we began to walk up to the car, he stopped and said, "ewwh, this ain't no new car!"  I looked at him and said, "It's a new car, to me".
 
My point to this story is that sometimes not everyone sees things the way you do.  Sometimes no everyone will accept the new you.  They are looking at you from the outside and have no idea what you are actually working with on the inside.  You were the friend that they used to get high with, party with and gossip with, but the more you seek out Christ, the more He changes you from the inside.  So they are looking at you with their naked eyes but God is looking at you with His spiritual eyes.  God does not see your outside, nor does He care about your outside, God is concerned about your heart, whatcha working with on the inside.  You see, God doesn't care what you are wearing, how good your nails look or how much you paid for your jewelry.  God is so beautiful that you can never outlook Him.  You can spend thousands of dollars on your outward appearance and still you won't impress God.   You may be able to impress your friends, but to God, you are wearing cheap clothes and jewelry.
 
Woman of God, I know that some of you have friends and family members that dress to impress all the time.  They have to have a weekly appointment at the salon for their hair and nails and their jewelry is always sparkling in church.  They are clean on the outside but their inner most parts are dirty.  They are unloving, talk about you behind your back, tell all your secrets and are no where to be found when you really need a friend.  That is the total opposite of God.  His innermost parts are beauty, loving, kind, compassionate and friendly.  He will never tell your secrets, talk about you behind your back and will always be there, wherever you are when you need Him.
 
So what, you can't always afford to get your hair done. So what, you don't get your nails done and so what, you don't have the latest trendy clothes.  Just like my car, it had a new engine and it ran better than most new cars.  Once you start living your life according to biblical principals and glorify God with all your heart, it's like getting a new engine.  The outside may not look rich, but the inside is very rich and you won't every go bankrupt.  When tough financial times hit, your new engine will sustain all the challenges of life.  You seem to look the same on the outside but just like a car, you can't see the new engine until you actually life up the hood and look inside.  DO YOU HAVE A NEW ENGINE?  If not, you are going to run out of oil and your car will break down in the middle of the expressway.  The last place you will want to break down at is in the middle of heavy traffic.  If you are only concerned with how you look on the outside, your friend with rusty car will pass you up in the fast lane.  When things get really bad and traffic is heavy, your friends will want to ride with you because of your new engine.  PRAISE GOD!
 
Don't forget, the Women's Conference is just around the corner, sign up and I'll see you soon!  God bless you.
 
To purchase a copy of my book, "Spiritual Growth for Women - Breaking Shackles", visit www.amazon.com or www.xlibris.com, thank you for supporting the ministry.  God bless you.