"A Shoe Can Change Your Life": Cinderella said that!
But I'm thinking that in my life it seems to be all about a Purse changing mine.
*
This weekend I spoke in Roanoke, Virginia.
*
I really should warn event coordinators that satan comes full force at them prior to planning this event and for the life of me, I hate that. I really should have told April that, but honestly, I keep thinking that maybe he'll just leave them alone after figuring out that we're not gonna stop providing this event for women, but he just keeps on.
*
She really went through wayyyyy more than any event coordinator ever should have to. Besides having most of her committee quit on her, advertising being forgotten, volunteers not showing up for tickets sales, and not one store being willing to lend clothes for the fashion show (until a dear friend from Charlotte found one to do so a few days before the event), she was also told 2 days before the event that there was no money to pay for the lunch for the women attending. She was in tears and I don't blame her.
*
We knew God must be up to something big, but we didn't know what it was. But He was behind the scenes working it out. But not before He asked for some acts of obedience on our part. Sometimes it's about that, you know.
*
On Monday, April felt the Lord asking her to get up early, very early, to pray and be with him.
You might think that's not so hard, but when you have 2 little ones who get up early anyway, not only do you have to sacrifice your time, but you must be obedient to the alarm clock and move your bottom from the bed.
*
So she did. And pray she did.
*
Another woman was ill. Very ill. In the hospital kind of ill. When she heard there was no food for the lunch, she told April she would get out of the bed, (straight from the hospital) and make the food. And purchase the ingredients. Which she did...late until Friday night.
*
And it was delicious.
*
My husband was taking me to get some new shoes on Thursday to an outlet an hour from here. I always, always, drive long distances with a diet coke in hand...a fountain drink, with little ice, diet coke, please.
*
I decided to sacrifice diet coke that day to fast for the event. You might not think that's any big thing, but you don't know me and diet coke. Especially on long rides. So I did.
*
While in the outlet store, I couldn't find my size for what I wanted. But oh my goodness I found the most amazing purse EVER. I loved this thing. Every other purse there was on sale for OVER $100...seriously...some outlet, huh?
But this purse? $32. Yes indeed, it was only $32!
*
I walked around with this purse so excitedly! I showed my husband who just shrugged his shoulders and smiled. As he invited me to take a look at a pair of shoes for him, I tell you it's as if Jesus walked into that store, stood over me, and whispered in my ear.
*
I promise you, He spoke. And this is what He said:
"Put the purse back."
*
Excuse Me? Hello? This purse is only $32!
*
"Put the purse back. I'm asking you to be obedient and sacrifice that purse for the event on Saturday. Like, I appreciate the diet coke sacrifice, but I want that purse back on the rack."
*
I walked away from my husband, hung the purse back up and started crying.
Okay, I know you are wondering why I was crying...it was only a purse.
*
But by golly, if the God of the Universe spoke to you that clearly, you'd be crying too!
*
Because, readers, whoever you are today, I try to listen to God's voice. And I think I hear pretty well. But the one thing I learned that day is that He speaks to each of us in our very own language. And mine just happens to be called "Purse". Maybe yours is English, but mine definetly is not.
*
So off we drove home. Purse-less and Shoe-less.
*
And then on the way to the event on Friday, during the 3 hour drive there, we were about an hour from our destination when I got a call from my husband. He said:
"Did you mean to leave your clothes on the bed?"
*
Oh yes indeed! I now was Clothes-less.
*
Patti and I could hardly stop laughing as we drove into town and had to find a store to get me some clothes to wear on Saturday...unbelievable!
*
Saturday was wonderful, lots of stories to tell, lives touched, a beautiful fashion show, an amazing Host Home (thank you, Sara!) amazing food (thank you again, Sara!) an amazing event coordinator (April, you REALLY rock!) and prayerfully, blessed women and girls.
*
We may never know why God asks us to do what He does, but sometimes, obedience is more important than sacrifice...cause He just wants to see if we mean what we say. And He wants to see if we'll do what He says.
*
Off to Chapel Hill Bible Church this coming weekend for a teen event on Friday night and a women's event on Saturday. Would covet your prayers.
*
Fashion Tip of the Week:
When buying a new handbag, if buying a neutral color, it should be as close to your hair color as possible!
*
Beautiful Blessings,
Shari
9 comments:
Thanks for sharing this!
Seeing things from God's perspective is indeed a holy endeavor.
Obedience IS better than sacrifice and sometimes to obey IS the sacrifice.
oh shari. I thought I was done crying over this event and you got me crying again!!
you were amazing saturday.
through it all, I know some lives were changed that day. And I got to meet some amazing women, draw closer to other amazing women, and learn who in my life is not so..well you know..(lol).
and when your freind cindy, who had been trying to call me all week, wanting to pray with me. drove all the way from charlotte to attend the event, I almost cried then to when you introduced us. here was a woman who had never met me but had spent every day praying for me.
please Shari, you get an other event director who has problems, you give them my name and number.
praying for your next event and you as well.
Sweet Shari! How amazing this was!! I love to see how God shows up in lives like this! I wish I could've been there!!
Shari,
I can identify with you on "putting the purse back on the rack". In June I left a six-figure income to obey my Father and what He was asking me to do for Him. These past months have been one of the most incredible growing periods in my life. As Melanie said obedience IS better than sacrifice and that obedience sometimes means sacrificing our wants for God's favor. I'd rather have Him than anything. Love your ministry. My prayers are with you.
through it all though Shari. I did have some core women stick by me and help me through this. I would've given up had it not been for them
Shari,
I was wondering if I might use the image and description of your book, If Clothes Could Talk, on my blog. I am having a give away and I just ordered a copy of the book as part of the prize package. Thank you for considering letting me use your book image. You may follow this link and leave a reply on my comments section or you can email me at srpbabb@hotmail.com
Blessings,
Sandy
I had the best time attending Saturday's event in Roanoke! I would absolutely recommend you to speak to EVERYONE I know. I was thankful to have my daughters there and wished every kid in their schools could've heard the commentary from the senior boys. I loved your advice that "There are more like them all over the world!" You made me cry, laugh and think. But I am still mourning that I don't look good in black - hey navy is the new black, you know. Got pumpkin dip? :)
Loved this story Shari-- the way you told it here was great!! You must use this in your book someday... what a great way to tie in a love of fashion with our walk with God!!
I decided to stop in and say "hi" Shari!
I love your story! "He Speaks" yes indeedy!
Thanks for making me smile! I agree with Marybeth......this is definitely book material!
Post a Comment