Message of Grace

We (at Six Notes) always want our shirts to look great, however, it's the message behind it that truly matters to us.  So we are re-sharing from a previous blog post about 2 Corinthians 12:9 - Grace and what the verse means to us.

"My grace is all you need.  My power works best in weakness..." - 2 Corinthians 12:9

Those are God's words to the Apostle Paul after he gave him a thorn in his life. We don't know what that thorn is. The bible never says. But whatever it was, it was a major hindrance in his work and mission. (you can read about it in 2 Corinthians 12)

Most of us have heard the verse, for when I am weak, then I am strong. That phrase finishes out this particular passage. But these words, directly from God to one of the greatest apostles, is what struck me. "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness."

The fact the God's power is displayed in our weakness should give us encouragement and hope. It’s not our energy, efforts or talents; it’s our dependence on God that brings about power in our mission and every day.

We all have weaknesses. We can take pleasure in them and not be ashamed like Paul. For those weaknesses humble us, builds empathy and character, and strengthens our reliance on Christ.

As strong women (and men), we do not like to be dependent on someone, but through our weakness, we must depend in God. Only his power will make us effective for him and will help us do the work that has lasting value.

Grace and power,

The Importance of Tassels

I came across the passage below during my reading for my bible study.  It was a timely message and  just what I needed to hear for some major encouragement in our mission.

Photo by Sarah Marie

Photo by Sarah Marie

Numbers 15:37-41:  

"Then the Lord said to Moses,  Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: Throughout the generations to come you must make tassels for the hems of your clothing and attach them with a blue cord.  When you see the tassels, you will remember and obey all the commands of the Lord instead of following your own desires and defiling yourselves, as you are prone to do.  The tassels will help you remember that you must obey all my commands and be holy to your God.  I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt that I might be your God. I am the Lord your God!"

This message was given to Moses during the 40 years of the Israelites wandering the desert before they entered the promise land.   God had given them His commands to obey and called them to be holy, to set themselves apart from the pagan nations surrounding them.  These tassels were suppose to act as a constant reminder to His people to follow him and not their own desires.

Sound familiar?!

That's just what we want our apparel to do!!

Our mission in our apparel is to be reminded and show whose we are.  To be reminded of God's commands, love and promises. To be reminded to show grace and truth, to be humble, gentle and patient,  to be still in the Lord, to be courageous in His name, to be full of strength and dignity and fear the Lord and honor him, to be the good. 

Our shirts are to be to us like the tassels were for the Israelites.  A constant reminder throughout the day to be holy because our God is holy.  Because the Good Lord knows that we are prone to follow our own selfish desires and we need a little extra help.

Thank you Jesus for this mission.
 

Major side note:  As followers of Christ,  our true act of remembering the Lord and what he did for us on the Cross is the Lord's Supper.  The Lord's Supper confirms the new covenant with us where we are now saved by grace through faith and Jesus Christ.  Wearing a shirt, obeying all the commands or doing all the right things does not matter.  We do those things to show our faith in Christ, not to be saved.  For only faith can save.

Let His Teaching Fall On Us Like Rain.

 "Listen, O heavens, and I will speak!

Hear, O earth, the words that I say!

Let my teaching fall on you like rain; let my speech settle like dew. 

Let my words fall like rain on tender grass, like gentle showers on young plants. 

I will proclaim the name of the LORD; how glorious is our God! 

He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. 

Everything he does is just and fair. 

He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!"  

- Deuteronomy 32:1-4

Strength and Dignity - The Meaning


"She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without  fear of the future."  Proverbs 31:25

We all love the strength and dignity verse.  But have you ever thought about where this "ideal woman" we read about gets her true strength and dignity?  

The Proverbs 31 woman's strength and dignity is not found in her many achievements that we read about in this passage, it's found in her reverence for the Lord.  The Proverbs 31 woman that we have fallen in love with is good, compassionate, hardworking, strong, wise, trusting, joyful and so much more because she is clothed in His power and encompassed by His glory.  She is strength and dignity because she completely loves and fears God.  We love this passage because we see the heart of God, looking past her physical beauty and into her true beauty where her heart lies. 

Many times we see the women of the bible as retiring, servile, domesticated, second to man.  However, if we truly dive into God's word, we'll see God's great respect and reverence for women.  I mean, how many times do we see His majesterial power displayed through a woman's womb, a part of his greatest miracles, or how He sends his Angels to appear and share of His great news, including the two greatest events in the Bible, the birth and resurrection! (yes that was a run on sentence.)  Jesus changes the status quo and welcomed and embraced women of his day,  inviting them to follow him and be apart of his ministry.

So when you read this passage and wear this shirt,  think about what true strength and dignity means.  What does our Heavenly Father wish us to see in this passage. Strength and Dignity in the world's eye looks a whole lot different than what our Savior desires of us.  

"She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without  fear of the future."  Proverbs 31:25

Be His Good Challenge - Garbage Truck

#BeHisGood

I'm been absent the last 2 weeks with our Be His Good challenge, so hopefully you've taken this time to catch-up on missed thank you opportunities and past projects.  This week however, we'll make up for it.  Two for one.  Let's say thank you to those who most likely don't get thanked too often.  The garbage and recycling men and women.

The whole idea behind this Be His Good challenge started here.  With them.  My husband one evening decided to rally up the kids, grab a few cans of pop, muffins we just baked and thank you notes, and taught the kids the importance of saying thank you to those who serve us each day (week.)  My kids had so much fun.  Then I realized the impact after I heard a young man take our recycling bin from our curb and put it away for us.  So if you are loving this summer challenge, and the impact it's made, the Mr. is to thank.  

Craft:

http://www.crafty-crafted.com/paper-crafts/basic-shapes-dump-truck/

http://www.crafty-crafted.com/paper-crafts/basic-shapes-dump-truck/

Garbage Truck.  This is a great project to work on shapes and cutting.  I'll have the shapes already cut out for my 2 year old, but my 4 year old will love this cutting challenge.  Then grab some tissue paper or even candy wrappers and start gluing!  Remember this challenge is more about the purpose (read here) and less about the project.  And make sure to make 2 per child.  One for the recylcing bin the other for the garbage bin.  Maybe you even want to make more and add it to your neighbor's bins ;)

Challenge:  I'm the only individual awake in our house when the garbage and recycling trucks arrive, so we'll be setting our crafts and thank you note out the night before on top of each bin.  If this is the same for you, might I suggest putting it in a large plastic bag and taping it to the top to protect from moisture.  However, if they visit you during the day, grab a coffee or Popsicle and wait on the front step with your kids.  They'll be giddy with excitement.

Then spread the word!  

Take a photo and post on Facebook or instagram and use the #BeHisGood.  Then encourage others to join you in saying thank you to the wonderful librarians we have to help educate our children.  

Thank you for joining us this week in being His good.