Updating My Look

When the style you are wearing comes in and goes out a second time, it's probably time to consider just how long one has been clinging to their favorite outfit.

I've "enjoyed" the same style for nearly a quarter of a century . . . That statement alone makes me realize it was time for an update.  The fabric of my broom skirts has worn terribly thin, and many of them have become beyond repair, thus relegated to chore skirts.  I've discovered when cotton threads wear thin, eventually repairing them can actually cause greater damage, so I'm down to about three that are still pretty much fit for polite society . . .  I've gone with a cotton knit straight skirt now in solid colors.  I still like my colors and my layered top look, so the change isn't drastic, but after all these years, I have some new clothes.

I really hoped my clothes, like the children of Israel in the desert,  might not wear out for 40 years. Considering the fact that I've actually owned some of these skirts for more than 20 years, and I bought them at thrift stores and the Salvation Army, perhaps they are nearly that old.  I'd say they've held up well . . .  I'm also changing my head covering a bit, but my real point is, I've enjoyed having my own style rather than trying to keep up with the changing styles.  As mentioned previously, I maintained my style so long, it actually came back around, but the fabric quality of the new broom skirts just wasn't the same, and the price was really more than I could justify, so . . . change came.

My head coverings have changed through the years.  At one time, I had hats, then large bows, then scarves and kerchiefs, and I've always had a few feathers for special occasions.  In light of the fact that our nation is receiving Muslim refugees, I'm tending toward the head covering idea that "less is more."  I don't want to appear to be wearing a hijab, so the large scarves are being relegated to High Holy Day prayer "shawls" and feathers will no longer be just for special occasions.  As a Native American, I'm dark, yet with light eyes, which could result in the "privilege" of being racially profiled.  I believe the feathers will serve to cover my head, as well as offer the proper racial profile.  I'm not talking powwow headdress here, just a few feathers, daintily arranged on a barrette.

I've been having fun cleaning the closet and wondering if anything I am tossing is even worthy of donation, but if it's in good repair, share, I shall!  In this closet and dresser cleaning, I found some bras I thought I'd lost years ago in a move.  They were practically new when my size changed dramatically.  Since they were still built for buxom, I wanted them to go to someone who could really use the savings in a gift.  Full figured foundation garments are far from cheap!  I was, of course, hesitant to just post the offer on social media, so I prayed.  A friend popped into mind, so I simply asked her if she or her daughter wore that size.  She did, I mailed them, she called, and squealed with delight as she told me how pretty they were!  She was also thrilled in the quality!

I'm also enjoying a bit of shopping in very short spurts, really thinking this may be my last make-over.  I'm going full on tribal, modest, and earthy.  At my age and the current conditions in the world, if this new style lasts a quarter of a century, it may be more than enough!

Hearing Our King

The last several weeks, perhaps months have been life changing for me.  I've been having the best time of communion with Abba and Messiah in the wee hours of the morning, a.k.a. the middle of the night.  This has changed my pattern of sleep as well as the course of my day.  I don't know how long He will be meeting me, in the mid-night hours, but I'm certainly blessed by this time of prayer.  I'm hearing so much and learning so much about intercession.

Bedtime is now around 9 to 10pm.    Never in my adult life, have I gone to bed anywhere near this early.  I'm wide awake and heading into prayer when the mantle clock strikes 2.  This time with our Heavenly Father and Messiah varies in length and content discussion, but it always covers prayer requests of others and so far it has also involved hearing Them speak.  It's become regular, but hardly ordinary.  One of the first things I heard when this all began around Sukkot was, "It was time to move beyond the written Word."  To be honest, that scared me.  I really questioned if I heard properly, and then even worse, if I was hearing our Creator or another spirit.  It jarred me that drastically!  But it was a "Thus saith Adonai."  It's taken some time to come into a fuller understanding of this.

Through the course of these mid-night prayer meetings, I've been given natural formulas, been given various words for those who have asked, and received a few unusual assignments as well.  I've also received more than one fore-word of a coming event or situation in which I would find myself.  It was through Hanukkah, I was reminded that everything our Creator does and everything Messiah did in just a few short years on earth, has not been recorded.  As a matter of fact, John said the world couldn't contain the books it would take!

For years, I've made the statement, "Everything recorded in Scripture took place without the participants being able to turn the page to see how it turned out!"  Since Hanukkah, Y'hshuwah has reminded me that faith is stepping out beyond what we can see.  We know Moses wasn't as old as Abraham was having children, but we also know what Moses did . . . Elijah didn't bring plagues, but supply increased, at his spoken word and he did raise the dead.  Joseph and Daniel interpreted dreams, and Daniel was kept safe in the lion's den.  Only one apostle is reported to have survived martyrdom, but their lives were spent proclaiming the Good News, healing the sick, and offering deliverance.  They all stepped out in faith, without being able to turn the page and read how it would turn out!

Y'hshuwah said, his followers would do greater things . . . The time is at hand to step out in obedient faith, truly believing.