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Hi, I’m a REDEEMED shop-a-holic

by Karmen |

here’s one from a few months back that is worth taking a look at…..

***************

my high

came not

from heavy drink or substance

but rather

from stuff.

Hi, My name is Karmen and I am a REDEEMED shop-a-holic

shopaholic

seriously.

I don’t hink enough people call it what it is..

sin.

lust of the eye

gluttony

here’s a bit more of my story:

I LOVED pretty things

clothes, shoes, clothes, accessories and did I mention clothes??

things for my house

things for outside

but mostly clothes for

me

and I treated myself

often

whether shopping for work clothes or lounging attire

only the finest would do

let it be said

here and now

I never said this was a pretty story…..

dropping a hundred plus on a dress..

or a bathing suit

or an outfit to sleep in

without a moment’s hesitation

my nine digit credit card number

memorized.

xxx-585-xxx

seriously. memorized.

I ordered online, over the phone or shopped this one particular OVER PRICED brand

weekly

and it was fine. but not really.

my Love, was a self employed farrier at the time (farrier=one who shoes horses)

Me, a school teacher

my level of shopping

far exceeded our means

deep down..I knew it

Cowboy Dan didn’t.

I was sneaky.

As quickly as my new goodies would arrive

they would strategically

vanish

into the laundry room

to be blended with old

rarely a word spoken …until

the statement would come

and I would have to ask for Love’s help

because my paycheck

rarely covered my habit..

week after week I would ask our Sunday school class to “please pray for me”

“I’m greedy. Pray that I will not be so greedy”

liar.

Looking back

that’s what I was

a liar

I didn’t mean it

The same empty words from would flow from my mouth

not

my heart

10 years this went on

and then

Tucker, our oldest rascal was born.

I wanted to take off work

and come home and mother

our blessing

but I couldn’t

who said so?

our bills

my bills

I was in bondage

to plastic

my heart became heavy

a new study was announced at church

Crown Financial

we signed up

for 10 weeks we studied what God says about stuff and money and stewardship

WHAMO!

CONVICTION rained down

H.E.A.V.Y hearted

my pathetic prayer of

“Help me not to be so greedy.”

became

“FATHER PLEASE FORGIVE ME! Father FORGIVE my vanity! Forgive my poor stewardship. Forgive my lust of the eye! Change me Father.  I want to HONOR YOU with ALL that you have entrusted to me.”

my heart was no longer just heavy

it was broken

over my sin

and by His grace and because of HIS MERCY

I have been FORGIVEN.

REDEEMED.

Since and NOW

when I do I shop

I shop

THIFT STORES &

CLEARANCE

We GIVE MORE

why?

because we’re in accord with the wise King Solomon, the one who had it ALL and yet said

“Vanity of vanity. All is vanity.”

I can testify to

“LITTLE is MUCH when GOD is IN IT”!

we SPEND LESS!!!

instead of buying too much and asking for forgiveness

We pray and ask “Will this honor YOU Lord?”

No more secrets

I discuss with Cowboy Dan BEFORE I shop

“How much do we have to spend?”

I share my finds with him when I return.

Do I have to do this?

No.

It’s accountability

We do our best to know where HIS money goes..

It’s all HIS

the Lord’s

on loan to us

our desire

to be found FAITHFUL.

I share this ugly story

because

I’m a real girl

with real issues

who’s been FORGIVEN,

I’m REDEEMED

:O)

so what about you?? got any issues??

 

 

 

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Comments

  1. Christa says

    May 18, 2013 at 2:34 am

    That’s good stuff!

    • Karmen says

      May 18, 2013 at 2:54 am

      Thanks Christa for reading and taking time to comment!

  2. Priscilla Norman says

    May 18, 2013 at 4:30 pm

    Good stuff! I love your honesty, it helps to know people have weaknesses yet are forgiven. He’s still working on me too. I could not afford to shop but would do it when depressed. It only lifted my spirit for a few hours,then guilt and disgust kicked in. Had to learn to forgive myself as God already had. Then I could trust Him. No I am not worthy of His love and forgiveness, but He still gives it. What a Saviour! He came that we might have life and that more abundantly. That does not mean abundance in earthly things, though He blesses us. But freedom of spirit, free from guilt, freedom from lusts of the flesh whatever they may be. Praise God!

    • Karmen says

      May 23, 2013 at 3:29 am

      AMEN SISTER! AMEN!

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