On Saturday, Oct 17, Jerry and I will be boarding the Princess Cruise Line ship "Emerald of the Seas" for a seven day cruise to Princess Cay, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and Grand Turk courtesy of our wonderful friends as part of our 60th Wedding Anniversary celebration. This week, with our suitcases open before us, we are trying to decide what clothes we need to pack to enjoy the week. Will this wrinkle? Is this "dressy" enough? Will these shoes be comfortable? How many shoes will that suitcase hold? Should we roll these pants or fold them? Decisions! Decisions! Decisions!

As I have been considering all these choices, the Holy Spirit has made His own recommendations.

He led me to Romans 13 where Paul admonishes us in verse 13 the following;

"Let us live and conduct ourselves honorably and becomingly as in the (open light of) day, not in reveling (carousing) and drunkenness, not in immorality and debauchery (sensuality and licentiousness), not in quarreling and jealousy. But CLOTHE yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ ( the Messiah) and make no provision for (indulging) the flesh ( put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature) to (gratify its) desires (lusts)."

In Ephesians 6:11-13 Paul again exhorts us.

"Put on God's whole armor (the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies), that you may be able successfully to stand up against (all) the strategies and deceits of the devil. For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood (contending only with physical opponents), but against the despotisms, against the powers, against (the master spirits who are) the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. Therefore, put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day (of danger), and having done all (the crisis demands), to stand (firmly in your place)."

In Colossians 3:12-17, Paul writes,

"CLOTHE yourselves, therefore, as God's own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), (who are) purified and holy and well-beloved (by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by) tender hearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, (and) patience (which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper). Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other, even as the Lord has (freely) forgiven you, so must you also (forgive). And above all these (put on) love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness (which binds everything together in ideal harmony). And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts (deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state) to which as (members of Christ's) one body you were also called (to live). And be thankful (appreciative), (giving praise to God always). Let the word (spoken by) Christ (the Messiah) have its home (in your hearts and minds) and dwell in you in (all its) richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom (in spiritual things, and as you sing) psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with (His) grace in your hearts. And whatever you do (no matter what it is) in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in (dependence upon) His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him."
(All scripture taken from the Amplified Bible).

It seems the Holy Spirit knows a whole lot more about this upcoming cruise than we do. I have been alerted to the fact that I have a "divine appointment" on the ship and it is so easy on a pleasure trip to forget that the enemy has also made reservations and wil do his best to destroy God's plans for us.

Thank you, Holy Spirit, for reminding me that no one will remember the clothes I wore, but that smiles and actions and words have long lasting consequences. I put my trust in You to accomplish everything You planned for this week that the name of Jesus will be glorified.

With love from my seat at the Harvest Table,

Shirley

Recommended Reading
"The Practice of Godliness"
Jerry Bridges