What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Strength and Honor Are Her Clothing - Revisited and Updated


Jeepers, it's been almost two years since I originally wrote/posted this...but I was thinking about eagles today and was looking for something that I had written about them in the past...and rediscovered this post not only about eagles, but about my favorite flannel shirt...Yes...it is still my favorite...just haven't had a chance to wear it YET this fall...but we hear tell that cooler weather is on its way perhaps even tonight...so I need to go find it and get it ready to wear!!  Meanwhile...get a cup of tea (or coffee), pull up a rocking chair on the porch, and let's just visit a while.  Fall/winter is our porch time here in Florida...I can hardly wait!!!  I hope wherever you are that you are having a blessed and beautiful day...






"Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come."
Proverbs 31:25 NKJV
Original Post 1/27/2016

It seems like I just read this verse not long ago...oh, yes! I did! And I even wrote about it:
(Click HERE for THAT story)...but my emphasis was a little different. Today instead of the "she shall rejoice in the time to come" portion of the verse, I am thinking more about the "strength and honor are her clothing" section.  Why? Well, maybe because I got a new flannel shirt today and I wanted to show it off.  (That's true, but that's kind of a silly thing to write about, don't you think?)
I did actually get this new flannel shirt today. I don't know why that has evoked such sentiment and drama for me...but it has.  

You see, when my husband asked me what I wanted for Christmas I told him I really wanted a nice soft, cozy flannel shirt to wear around the house.  He didn't take me seriously and didn't realize that I truly wanted a flannel shirt for Christmas! So, needless to say, I didn't get one. Now here it is a month later, and I told him today when we went shopping at Walmart that I was going to buy myself a flannel shirt if they still had any. I looked first in the women's department, but didn't see what I wanted there, so I headed to the men's department, and lo! and behold! They had flannel shirts on sale!  I had to shuffle through the stacks to find one that would fit me in the color I wanted, and finally found the one and only one left.  I grabbed it and put it in my buggy before someone else came along and got it first!

When we returned home the first thing I did was pull off all the stickers and labels and put it in the wash so it could get washed and dried and ready to wear as soon as possible. This was such a special moment I asked my husband to take my picture in it.  I think he's still scratching his head over how I could be so thrilled over a simple thing like a flannel shirt.  Maybe next year he'll listen to me when I tell him what I want for Christmas!  

But this post isn't really about my new flannel shirt or getting what I want for Christmas. It's about Strength and Honor...the clothing of the "Proverbs 31" woman...that marvelous, amazing, blessed, strong, intelligent, faithful, godly woman that we all would love to be, but doubt we'll ever reach her level of "perfection".  Reaching a level of perfection in this life is not really my goal, and probably isn't yours either. We are just striving to make it through life one day at a time, dealing with whatever stresses or sorrows or unexpected issues that come our way and making it safely to the other side. 

I like what God said to the children of Israel in Isaiah 40:31~

"But those who wait on the Lord
shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint."

And again in Isaiah 30:15, God tells us:

"In returning and rest you shall be saved;
In quietness and confidence 
shall be your strength."

Further in Isaiah 30:18...

"Therefore the Lord will wait,
that He may be GRACIOUS to you;
And therefore He will be exalted, 
that He may have mercy on you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
Blessed are all those who wait for Him."

I love these thoughts today...my strength comes from the Lord...

He has clothed me with His strength, 
His GRACE, 
His love, 
His mercy, 
His honor.
Sometimes we have to wait on the Lord for the best gifts to arrive...like my new flannel shirt.  
If I had received this new shirt on Christmas day I doubt that I would have thought so much about its significance. I might have missed this special deeper gift that God wanted to give me today.  I am glad that He waited to show me the hidden message of being blessed by waiting on Him.

Oh, by the way...did you see that magnificent picture of that eagle above?  That was another special "gift" from the Lord this past week.  Last weekend we had traveled on that same road and saw that gorgeous eagle perched high on that same tree. The problem was I had forgotten to take my camera along that day. Needless to say, I was quite frustrated with my lack of foresight.  Living in a national forest you would think I would have learned to always be prepared with a camera to capture pictures of whatever might happen to appear. Yeah, well...lesson learned.  So, a few days later we planned to travel back on that same route again.  This time I went prepared with camera in hand.  Sure enough as we approached the exact same area and tree, there he was!
That marvelous creature was perched and waiting for me as if to say, "what took you so long?".  I made my husband pull over and stop the car and I jumped out and started snapping pictures as fast as I could, fearing that the eagle would suddenly take off in flight and I would miss my opportunity again.  Thankfully he seemed to be quite content to stay right there and let me take as many pictures as my anxious to get going husband would allow....








Dear Friend...What are YOU wearing today?  Are you clothed in the strength and honor of the Lord? Are you waiting on HIM to show you His plan, His will, His love and strength and grace for your situation?  Oftentimes the best gifts of all come to us as we wait on the Lord.  Yes,

"Blessed are all those who wait for Him."

POST SCRIPT 10/24/17:  After "revisiting" and posting this earlier today I wanted to add an update on our vehicle situation. So many of you had been praying regarding our search for a "new" vehicle to replace the old car that was towed away a couple of weeks ago.  (More about THAT HERE) Well, after a long and frustrating search, I am so happy to report that today we found the "perfect" "new" (1997) Ford F150 Pickup Truck...Yes, that's right...this vehicle is for our son, who needs it for work, and it's a long story, but we are so thankful that after several disappointments God directed us to this truck...perfect for what he needs and in the price range we had pre-determined...
 So, thank you for your prayers...and I must say again:

           "Blessed are all those who wait for Him."  Amen!!

19 comments:

  1. Such a beautiful post, Pamela. It really touched my heart as I read and prayed for God to enlighten me in His words and He did speak through your post. Thanks so much and enjoy your new flannel shirt, wear it with joy knowing God has again blessed you as you serve Him through your blog!

    Love and Hugs,Sylvia

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    1. I am so glad you enjoyed this today, and that God is speaking to you as well. Amazing what a new flannel shirt can do for the soul! I am wrapped up in it right now as I write, and I feel its warmth permeating my body and spirit as I see here that God has indeed clothed US with His strength and honor in so many ways. You are a blessing to me. I pray for you daily as I see you settling in to your new home and life. God is with you.

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  2. I just love that God brought to your mind such a wonderful post, all with a pretty flannel shirt! Always striving to be clothed in the Word of God. You and God really touched my heart today.

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    1. Isn't it amazing how God works? I never dreamed this new flannel shirt would evoke such thoughts and words from God's Word. I love how He uses the simple things in life to open our eyes to His wonderful love and truth. Thank you for being a part of my daily blessing!

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  3. Hi Pam, Beautiful post and a pretty flannel shirt. I love your photos of the eagle, they are magnificent birds!

    I'm seeking to depend more and more upon the Lord this year (hmm...seems to go along with my word for the year, "abide"). As I sort through my rather cluttered files and house, I'm know that I really need to depend upon the Lord--there's no way I could do it on my own!

    Blessings!

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  4. Beautiful post of eagle and shirts...

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  5. I love that photo of you on the porch! We are having lovely weather here but now it's turning chilly. I'm loving that though. I always was fascinated with bald eagles. Such beautiful photos and words.

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    1. I hope you are enjoying your fall weather there...what week are you coming to Florida? I hope the weather will be good for your visit. I am so happy for you in your new home...praying God will bless you every day with new joy.

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  6. It's great to hear the news about the new truck! I hope it gives many years of great service.
    I like the photo in the shirt and I like the eagle! How special to get such great pictures!

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    1. Thank you for your thoughts and prior concern expressed regarding our vehicle situation. I thought you'd be happy to see it is finally resolved...Praise God!! Thinking of you as you undergo surgery in the near future? I'll be praying for you. You are such an inspiration and blessing to me.

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  7. Pam, thank you so much for reposting this...strength and honor...and we are clothed by our Father with both...and as you pointed out even more. Waiting is essential...waiting upon Him. I loved all of the pictures of the Eagle. Oh my! One of my favorite birds. Wonderful answer to prayer regarding the pick-up truck for your son! SO happy for him!

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    1. I am so glad you stopped by to visit Dianna. You are on my heart and mind so much these days. Thank you for your wonderful thoughts expressed here. We are so blessed, aren't we?

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  8. “She shall rejoice in time to come.”

    Pamela, I feel like this is prophetic for our modern days.

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    1. Oh Yes...We CAN rejoice, because we know WHO holds our future...and we know WHO hold our hand along this journey!! Thank you!!! And Thank you, Jesus!!

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  9. Oh, dear Lady, I needed to read this. I'm waiting for God to work a miracle in our lives and this strengthens my hope! Thank you for re-posting! 💜

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  10. Oh, Pamela, the photos of the eagle are simply stunning! Isn't God so good to have that rascal right back where you originally saw him when you returned with camera in hand. How I love God's unexpected gifts! And the shirt? I think I need one of those - I haven't worn a flannel shirt in ages, and your post here reminded me how much I miss that softness and warmth.
    Glad, too, you all found the perfect ride for your son! Good news all around!
    Blessings!

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  11. I love the pic of you in your flannel shirt and on the porch. I so wanted a plaid flannel shirt last year and I said this year I'm getting one. So far the weather hasn't been such to get me out looking for one. Your thoughts about waiting are beautiful and so true. I think often of what the Bible says about being clothed with Christ. That pretty much covers it for our wardrobe. The finest clothes from God Himself. Thanks for sharing this and those very fine photos of the eagle. The verses you shared are, again, some of my very favorites.

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  12. Pam, Thank you so much for sharing this post again. The Proverbs 31 woman is a high ideal for which to strive. By the way, I love your flannel shirt--nice and warm and comfy. Your photos of the eagle are stunning. Pam, you seem to have the eye of a photographer.

    Blessings!

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