In the movies, when the producer wants the viewer to notice a specific phrase or date, he often blurs out everything around those words so that they stand out above the rest. That's how tonight's sermon was for me. All I heard all night was, "... I will walk within my house with a perfect heart."

Maybe I'm the only hypocrite in the church, but how often do we act one way outside the home and another in front of our family? "But..." (there's that word again.) "But..." I think to myself, "home is the only place I can truly be myself." Ya, sure, at times my true self shows herself in front of others, but not like it does at home. I guess what is most disturbing is what my "true" self is really like.

I don't know about you, ladies, but when I get home from church the first thing I want to do is to change into something a little less restricting. I wouldn't be caught putting the dog out in my comfy clothes, but in the house, its okay to let loose a little. After all, it's home. The sad thing is that this world has filtered its way into my thinking and I now do the same thing spiritually. I get home and put off the "new man" that has to work so hard at being good. The new man is so restricting, and I end up putting on the comfortable "old me." Oh, I wouldn't want to be caught in church wearing the "old man", but in the house, well, after all, it's home.

What would happen to my family if I kept on the "new man" all the time? Of course, it's not always comfortable, but what a difference it would make. Next time, I feel the need to "unload" I might remember that God tells me to cast my cares on Him, not on my husband or children. When I'm tired and at the point of breaking, I would be reminded that God's strength is made perfect in my weakness. When I'm angry because the kids put their fingers in the pie I just made for company and got it on their clothes, or my hubby isn't as attentive as I think he should be or unintentionally hurt my feelings, I would remember what the Lord told Jonah "Doest thou well to be angry?" When I'm convinced that the kids will never obey me, instead of losing it in a fit of frustration, I would remember that they are actually disobeying God NOT me. I would trust God to give me wisdom and patience to raise them for His glory not my own and trust Him with the results.

Most -- no scratch that -- EVERY time "I lose it" I'm wearing the comfy "old man." I lose my God-given inhibitions and I give into the desire to vent. The idea that we have to vent our feelings or we'll explode came from the world. It reminds me of a time when Mom was having a bad day and Dad picked up the Pepsi bottle and said, "Hey, Shell, you're like this bottle. It's says 'Warning! Contents under pressure.' I wonder, if I shake you, will you explode too?" God promised us that He will never put us in a position of temptation that we cannot handle. The problem is that instead of wearing my armor, I'm wearing my comfy, unrestrictive, old man.

The first part of Psalm 101:2 says, "I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way..." At times, we have to walk "in a perfect way" even when we don't feel "perfect." However, if I put off the "old man" and wear the armor God has given me then I will begin to"...walk within my house with a perfect heart."

If you study the rest of Psalm 101, you will find practical ways to help in putting off the old man. Such as, verse 3, "I will set no wicked thing before my eye..." How often do I think, "I'm so tired and frustrated I just need to sit down and unwind in front a good DVD." Is there anything wrong with watching an episode of "Green Acres" with my hubby? No! But the problem is, I put that before my eyes rather than God's Word to unwind. Maybe, if I had spent some quality time with God today, I wouldn't have felt so comfortable in the "old man" and I wouldn't feel the need to unwind so often. Then, I would be able to truly enjoy spending time with my husband and the folks of Hooterville (the hick town on "Green Acres" for those who've never seen it.) instead of staring blankly at a screen until I fall asleep leaving my hubby to keep himself company.

With God's help, I am going to put off the old man and live tomorrow dressed properly in the armor God has given me.

Forgive me for making one more comparison, but...

Most of the time my clothing is uncomfortable due to the fact that there is too much of me in it. And whenever my Christian armor gets uncomfortable, it's because I'm being selfish and I have too much of me in it. It's time to go on a diet spiritually and live for God and my family. Maybe, in time, my armor won't be so uncomfortable after all!

This morning I was trying to help my husband find some good material on Biblical Manhood online. What I found disgusted me. First of all, I'd like to know where all the King James Bible believers are. Everything I found in my searches used a plethora of "Bible" versions. Some of what they had to say was good, but how can they teach on Manhood when they don't have the stamina to stand on God's Word?

Secondly, several of the sites used pictures of half dressed men and woman. On one blog about Biblical Manhood, the graphic they used was of a Greek goddess with half her breast exposed and a "Hercules" type man. One had an advertisement in the corner of a scantily clad woman saying something like, "I'm looking for a man like you." It was an ad for a "christian" online dating service.

IF you can find something more sound, it often portrays a "He-man", Dictatorship type of manhood. No wonder our boys are growing up to be confused men. Biblical manhood is NOT just being the head of the home, working schedule hours then resting while the wife continues to serve and work until she goes to bed.

I never realized how blessed I am to have a husband who is man enough to help me with my responsibilities. My husband does dishes, he will throw in a load (however ill-sorted or over-sized) in the washer for me, he even cooks on occasion for the two of us. He says, "I love you" and says it often. He is man enough to spend time with our children reading books, singing out of tune songs, and hugging them. He is man enough to take a stand on God's Word and preach without compromise. I thank God for giving me a true man.

One thing I did read this morning that was good was this... "Others may not consider (him) a man's man, but (he) will be God's man."

David was considered a man after God's own heart. Did his sexual conquests make him that? NO! Did his wealth make him that? No, Christ was poor and yet He is the ultimate example of manhood. Did his quivers full of children make him that? No, he was considered a man after God's own heart before he ever married. Was it his great power and position of authority? Not likely!

What made David God's man? He was man enough to put his faith in God. He was man enough to know that he wasn't man enough without God's help. He was man enough to know his weaknesses. He was man enough to seek forgiveness. He was man enough to forgive. He was man enough to fear an Almighty God. He was man enough to serve. He was man enough to take a stand when it was unpopular. He was man enough to value God more than his own life. He was man enough to cry. He was man enough to love. He was man enough to grieve. He was man enough to PRAY. He was man enough to hide God's Word in his heart... Do I need to go on?

As for finding good, KJV Bible study material on manhood online... I guess we'll just have to write some ourselves.

If you have a husband who is striving to be a man of God, thank God today for him. He is indeed a rare treasure. Encourage him. Do what you can to make his job easier. Thank him!

If you're harboring bitterness because your husband or son doesn't measure up, take it to the Lord. Only God can change the heart of a man. None of our men are perfect, just as David wasn't perfect. Let's be careful that our pride hasn't convince us that we deserved someone better. Ask yourself this, "Am I the woman God wants me to be?" Then focus on that answer and strive to be a woman of God. God is "Man" enough to take care of your man.

If you are dreaming about what kind of man you wish to marry. Make sure you are holding him up to God's standard. Don't fall into the trap of fairytale dreams. DON'T waste your time with books on romance and manhood. Study God's Word and set that as your standard. Did you realize that Christ was not considered comely? The "great" Paul the Apostle was physically weak. Moses had a speech impediment. Peter lacked social graces. A real hero is a man who will follow God at all costs, who will stand on God's Word even when its unpopular, who will treat you like the weaker vessel while respecting you as an equal partner, a real man will put his faith in God. A real man knows that it is not he who provides for his family, but God Who provides through his faithfulness to God's calling.

If it's too late for your man in the sense that your marriage is beyond repair. Focus on your sons and daughters, nieces and nephews, the children in your church family. Make sure you are teaching them what it means in God's Word to be a man. Lord willing, the boys will grow up to be God's men and the girls will respect manhood and pray for a man of God to lead her.

What makes a boy a man? Fear and Faith in God.