A Book on Modesty

                                                                         

    Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God with your body. 

                  1 Corinthians 6:19-20

                         I finished reading a book called Modest men and women clothed in the Gospel. By R W Glenn and Tim Challies. I know that the word modest could be a scary word to you. Even as Christians the topic of modesty can make your eyes roll. 

                        I saw this book at the library when I was browsing around for a book to read. I plucked it from the shelf. I was pleasantly surprised to read that authors said that they wanted to address modesty to men as well as women. I knew that men had to look away if they saw a sparsely dressed women but, I thought it was ultimately the woman who had to take care of the modesty issue. They actually pointed out areas where men are immodest too! 

                      I don't want to give anything away about this book. You should definitely read it for yourself. It has brought me to a greater understanding of this issue. I don't see modesty as a have too. But as a want to. Because of Jesus I want to dress modestly to honor him and thoughtfully be aware of my brothers in Christ (and I don't want the wrong attention).

                    The biggest point they touched was that the issue of modesty all comes from the heart. So, I will leave you with that. I strongly encourage you to read this book. I assure you will be surprised. And pleasantly so.  

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Words that Sting

               
                                                                           

                            Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 
                                                                                                     Ephesians 4:29

                          Let's face it. As woman we can be so harsh to each other.  We really know how to hit where it hurts. Sometimes I would rather hang out with guys then be with my own kind!

                       This girl talk needs to stop!

    There is one who's rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.   
                     Proverbs 12:18

                            All of us woman can be hard and cruel. But, this post will be focused on the audience of middle, high school and collage age ladies. 

                            Have any of you seen the movie 'Mean Girls' ? I watched it when I was an 8th or 9th grader. The point that really stuck out to me was how scary mean girls are and how words can ruin your life! 

                            I was home schooled through out grade school. But the crazy thing is. I still felt the effects of public school! I grew up living on a Military base. My Dad was in the Army. I had plenty of friends. My sisters and our friends played together and became close with many other fellow "Army Brats" and their families. Of course I'm a triplet so people talked about us a lot. I was able to ignore it. But it just bothered me that people talked about me. It still does. I actually feel creep'd out at times thinking about that. 

                           Ladies, think about it. Why do you slander, make fun of and put down other girls? To make yourself feel better? That's the big one. Or is it because their annoying? Their weird? Their dumb? Whatever the case may be STOP! I won't say "oh, treat them as you would want to be treated." You've probably heard that plenty of times. Even though it's true. Just stop it. You girls are spiritually killing yourselves. And it's literally killing girls. Have you noticed? There has been a rise of suicides in recent years. You may even think 'what does that have to do with me? If they kill themselves that's their problem.' That's not the case.

                        I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak. 
                                    Matthew 12:36

                     As a young person your probably just focusing on the hear and now. Doing and saying whatever you want. Eating and drinking whatever you like and Wearing whatever is in  now. Have you ever thought of your future? Not collage (for you middle and high schooler's) And not what you're life will be like after collage. I'm talking about the next couple days, weeks, and even years. How will the now affect you later? 

                 When I was about 12 or 13 some of my friends came to my house. They told me about this girl that pretended she was a werewolf and she only chased girls. At first I was like 'so that's just how she plays.' But then they told me more things that made her sound really weird. I got caught up in their uproar and all of us girls went to give her a tongue lashing on her weird behavior. We crowded that poor girl and were nasty and mean. She ran and we chased her. She got to her house. She was on the steps crying. Her friend cradled her in her arms and glared at us as we approached. She told us that we should be ashamed and that we had no imagination. That snapped me out of the mob thinking. It cut me to the core. I realized this girl could have been a friend! I regret getting caught up in my friends perception of that girl. I wish those words could be taken back. I hate to think how that affected that girl. What lies does she believe about herself now? 

               Let this be a warning to you. Every word you say is recorded. God takes into account all your careless and cruel words. And, He takes into account all the good too. 

               Choose today to surrender your words, your tongue to Jesus. Lay it at the foot of the cross and let God work a new thing in you. You won't believe how a kind word can turn someones day around. Even a simple hello can bring a beautiful smile to a frowning face. Words hold great power. What do you choose? Words of destruction or words of life?

                                                                         

Why?!

                       Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, "where is this God of yours?"

                                                            Psalm 42:3

                         This past week it has been building up. A building up of sorrow and heart ache. I don't know how many of you are in this very predicament as  I am. The predicament is a growing frustration at God that I am waiting to be married. It's been a good bit since I've confessed my pledge of abstinence. That road has been a long joyful, painful, instructive and stumbling one. 

                         It all started when some personal addictions came back to the surface, coming to a head one Saturday evening.   I just sobbed and punched my pillow in discontentment. I told God that I was upset with Him. Why haven't I met my future husband yet? I feel ready yet I don't. I feel so unsure and yet sure. I told God that this waiting is driving me crazy!! What's the point?!

                                                  God please!! 

                 
                             Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?
                                                                                  Psalm 42:5

                   I know I've felt this way plenty of times. What's different about this is that I'm getting older. Okay; I'm only twenty-five so that's still very young. I guess there's this pressure though that time is running out. Seeing friends and family getting married (especially when they're younger then me) is almost embarrassing in a way. I really began to doubt whether I heard from God or if it's just me making this up. Am I waiting on hot air?

                   This morning the last straw that threatened to break me was when my Mom showed me that a young friend has a boyfriend now and that Valentine's day is this month. I took it out on my Mom and on one of my sisters. I told them how angry at God I was. I fumed and spewed some mean and nasty remarks that were not necessary. I didn't care at the moment. As the morning went on and my legs felt pretty pumped from all the walking (we were on our daily walk). I noticed the sky was so beautiful. The clouds had traces of pink and gold and I saw a glimpse of the moon (which is one way that God reminds me of His love for me). I could see evidence of His love for me but, I didn't want it at that moment. Even earlier I heard Him trying to whisper words of comfort but I bitterly shut Him up. I kept telling God to back off. I felt that what if God was making me wait because of what I've done and what's happened to me? What if no good man will ever want me? What if I'm destined to be alone?

                After the walk, God's spirit lay heavy on me. Not one of condemnation but of quiet understanding. He seemed to say ;"I know. I understand how you feel. Just hold on." Then I remembered what I read the evening before going to sleep.  It's Elisabeth Elliot's book 'A lamp for my feet.'

                     Being very much of the earth-earthy- we always want tangible, visible things-proofs, demonstrations, something to latch onto. If we always had them, of course, faith would be "struck blind." When Jesus hung on a cross, the challenge was flung at Him: come down! He stayed nailed, not so that spectators  would be satisfied (that miracle, His coming down, would have been a great crowd pleaser), but that the world might be saved.
                      Many of our prayers are directed toward the quick and easy solution. Long-suffering is sometimes the only means by which the greater glory of God will be served, and this is, for the moment, invisible. We must persist in faith. God has a splendid purpose. Believe in order to see it. (Then she posted 1 Corinthians 4:17,18 at the end of it)

              Even though this is really hard, there is a reason for it. God is not punishing me because of my past. And He is not punishing you either.  All this waiting will come to fruition.  I am excited about the day when I meet my future husband. But, what I desire most out of waiting is that God's name will be glorified.

  I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on Him. I have put my hope in his word. 
                                                                                                                     Psalm 130:5