Mary's Story: Part Three Conclusion

Merry Christmas to all you readers! I hope you have a joyous Holy-day! May we never forget God's greatest Gift of Christmas!!

Mary sang a song of praise as she went about her preparations. Praise to the LORD for His work in Joseph’s heart! She had returned from her visit to Elizabeth to a changed Joseph. An angel had appeared to him as well, although in a dream, and told him to take her as his wife, that her story was true. And now she was making preparations to become his bride.

The wedding went well. Everyone feasted on the delicious meal and had a good time. Now Mary was Joseph’s wife and keeping his house. She smiled as she prepared the evening meal. Joseph would be in from the shop and they would sit down at the beautiful table he had made, just as they had done in the five months since the wedding. Her belly was quite large now and made her movements rather awkward. It would not be long before the Messiah would make His appearance. What would He look like? Would they share any features? Would He have her dark hair and eyes? What would it be like to hold her Creator and care for His every need?

Joseph came in, stomping the dust from his feet, just as he always did. His eyes were so expressive; they usually reflected his eagerness just to spend time with her. This day, however, they only reflected worry.

“What is the matter, Joseph?” Mary inquired.

“Mary, my love, I just found out that there is to be a new tax.”

“Do we not have the money to pay it?” Failure to pay a tax could result in the head of the home being sent to prison, or worse, to the galleys.

“No, that is not the problem. The problem is that it must be paid in my hometown and you must go with me. Caesar is also taking a census, and for that reason we must go to Bethlehem, the town of my fathers.”

“The trip will be hard, Joseph. But God will protect this little one from harm. I’m not afraid.”

And so the plans were made. The trip was long. Sometimes Mary rode the small donkey they bought for the trip, but often she walked. Walking was more comfortable than bumping around on the donkey’s back. Bethlehem was a very busy place. They had not foreseen the trouble they would have finding a place to stay. As they went from inn to inn searching for a room, Mary began to feel the first pangs of labor. She didn’t tell Joseph at first, after all, what more could he do to find a place than what he was already doing. But it wasn’t long before he noticed her discomfort. Perhaps it was her sharp intake of breath that made him look back at her.

“Are you alright, Mary?”

Mary nodded, but her face betrayed the pains that she felt. Joseph, feeling a stronger sense of urgency, became even more adamant at the next inn. Finally the innkeeper must have felt pity for them. He offered the only room he had left – a stable. Joseph accepted. Mary was troubled, how could she give birth in such a place, amid the animals and the dirt. But Joseph was able to prepare a soft bed on clean hay; the blankets they brought helped to shield her from the poking straw. Despite the less than desirable conditions, there were no other options. The Baby must be born here, but better here than on the streets.

And so He was. The birth went quickly after she was settled, and soon she held the baby Emmanuel in her arms. Oh the splendor and the humility. She, chosen to care for the Creator. The One who had formed her in her mother’s womb, now lay helpless in her arms. The stable itself seemed to glow with His presence. It could not have looked more beautiful to Mary had it been a palace.

Later that evening Joseph and Mary were surprised to have visitors. Several men came to the entrance of the stable, asking to see the baby. Joseph was reluctant, but when Mary heard them speak of angels, she knew they could not be refused. They came in and knelt before the manger that had been put to use as Jesus’s bed. They did not stay long, but soon went on their way rejoicing.

As Mary thought about these events, she sat in wonder. What kind of man was Jesus to be? Maybe He wouldn’t become a mighty king as she had imagined he would. Perhaps He was to take His place among the most humble of His people. Why else would He be born in a stable? Why else would the angels announce His arrival to shepherds of all people? Mary treasured these thoughts as she settled in for a needed rest. Who knew what tomorrows would bring? But she rested in the thought that God had it all planned, to the last detail, and it was not for her to know it all. But Mary knew that she wouldn’t forget the happenings of the last few months. Perhaps one day, the world would want to know about His birth. Would they celebrate it as a part of God’s greater plan?

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Images Courtesy of Graphics By Irene

Story copyright Charity M. December 2006. The author kindly requests that you seek her permission before using this story in any form. Thank you.

Virtual Reality

I know this is in the middle of my Christmas posts, but I felt that it needed to be posted now. The thoughts have been rolling around in my brain for a couple of days.

~o8o~

As many of us grow and mature, we seek what is true and real. Some people seek for this reality in the wrong places, finding instead a virtual reality - substituting the transient things of the world for what they are truly seeking. Whether or not they know what they are really seeking. These substitutes can be many things: material things such as cars, clothes or the latest gadgets; the busyness of life like a job, entertainment, goals; or even relationships... anything that has been placed as a substitute for Reality. While there may be nothing wrong with these things themselves, they can never substitute for True Reality.

And what is Reality? What is Truth? These questions have puzzled philosophers for centuries. (For an example, see here for an illustration of Plato's Cave Allegory.) However, they only true Reality can be found in God and in serving Him in all that we chose to do. What we see now, in our lives, is merely a reflection of things to come. The life we now live is a shadow of reality. As we are now, we are limited by time and space, but in true Reality, there will be no limits of time and space. We call this Eternity.

So what does this mean to us? All of our choices should be made in light of eternal reality - what we own, how we spend our time and who we invest ourselves in. Instead of seeking to satisfy our need of Reality with a pseudo/virtual- reality, we should be seekers of True Reality and make each decision with those values in mind. Paul put it this way in 1 Corinthians 13:12 "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." What we face here on earth is fleeting. The joys we have are only a reflection of what we will know in Heaven, and the heartaches pale in comparison to the joys that God has in store for His children. When we reach Reality, we will understand what here on earth is such a mystery. We will have a perfected understanding of spiritual matters. When we keep this in mind, everything else falls into perspective. Seek Him First!

Mary's Story: Part Two

Here is the second installment of Mary's Story. Enjoy! The last part will be posted Christmas Eve - one week from today! :)

The next day, Mary walked to Joseph’s shop with trepidation. Would he understand what she had to tell him? He must know, and her news was sure to affect him deeply. She had told her parents the night before, and they had taken the news quite well. It was a shock to them, of course, but they had never known her to lie and they trusted her. They had encouraged her to tell Joseph first thing today. They weren’t sure how he would take the news. Would he cancel their marriage plans, or even have her stoned to death?

Mary stopped at the door to Joseph’s shop and watched as he sanded down the top of a table he had just finished. The table’s surface glowed from the smoothing and polish that Joseph had applied. He must have felt her gaze, because he looked toward the door.

"Mary! Come in and see! I made it for us – for our home. Do you like it?”

Mary stepped into the shop and admired the table, running her hand over the smooth top and admiring the scroll work on the legs.

“It’s beautiful, Joseph. How hard you must have worked. I can just see us sitting down to dinner with our children at this fine table.” Mary turned away as tears filled her eyes. Would they ever get to share a meal at this table?

“Mary, what is wrong?” Joseph was instantly by her side, concern filling his eyes. “has something happened?”

Mary took a deep breath as she prepared to answer. “Yes, something has happened, Joseph. But it is wonderful news, really. If only you understand…”

“Understand what, Mary? What wonderful news would cause you to fill with sadness?”

“Not sadness, Joseph. Just fear. Although, I shouldn’t be afraid, Jehovah is in charge and I am his handmaiden.”

“Mary, please stop speaking in riddles and tell me what has happened.”

“I am with child.”

“What?”

“Yes, Joseph. Let me explain.” As Mary told him of the events of the previous day, Joseph’s eyes filled with amazement, then anger, then sorrow.

“Please, go, Mary. I need to think.”

Mary left the shop in tears. How could she make him understand that what she said was true? She couldn’t, only the LORD could help him understand. When she arrived home, she told her parents of her visit. Her father went to Joseph to try to explain and to intercede on her behalf. When he returned, the news wasn’t good. Joseph was considering terminating the engagement, although in a private manner. At least he wouldn’t have her stoned.

Mary’s father had a suggestion. “I think you should take a trip, Mary. Go see our cousin Elizabeth. A visit to her would be of great comfort to you, I think.”

Mary agreed and preparations were quickly made for the trip. Two days later, she left, without hearing anything else from Joseph.

The trip was long, but finally she reached her destination near Jerusalem. When she entered the home of Zacharias and Elizabeth, she called out her greeting. Elizabeth came running with tears of joy.

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”[1]

Mary was so grateful! Someone else believed! Someone else knew, without Mary even telling her! Truly the LORD was paving the way for the Messiah! As she was filled with joy, Mary’s heart overflowed with praise.

“My soul exalts the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name. AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM. He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble. HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS; And sent away the rich empty-handed. He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy, As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever.”[2]

Mary enjoyed her visit with Elizabeth. They excitedly prepared for both of their children, making small garments and trying to imagine what their little ones would be like. After three months, Mary received a message to come home as soon as possible. Had Joseph had a change of heart? Would they be married after all?

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[1] From New American Standard www.crosswalk.com

[2] Ibid.

Images Courtesy of Graphics By Irene

Story copyright Charity M. December 2006. The author kindly requests that you seek her permission before using this story in any form. Thank you.

Mary's Story is to be continued each Monday until Christmas.
I hope you enjoy it!

Merry Christmas!!!

Mary's Story: Part One

Merry Christmas from me! The following post and the next two posts are all part of a story that I wrote for my Sunday School class last year. I wanted to share it with you, as my Christmas gift. We don't know much about the emotions of Mary although the Bible does share some with us. We also don't know much about the events of the lives of those that had a part in the Birth of Christ. What follows is my idea of how these events might have taken place, and how Mary felt in reaction to those events. I hope you enjoy it!

Mary hurried home after her morning trip to the well. The sun was well on it’s way on its daily trip across the Galilean sky. She had spent too much time chatting with Hannah, and Mother would need the water. But, oh, she had had so much to discuss with Hannah. So much could happen in a day! To think that she was engaged to Joseph! He was so handsome, dark hair and deep brown eyes, and his manner was so kind and gentle. To think that he would desire her as a wife! Hannah had been surprised, but of course she knew of Mary’s desire to be wed, now that she was a woman. Hannah knew of Mary’s admiration for the young carpenter, and to think that Mary’s fondest desire was to come true!

Mary tripped a little in her rush. The water sloshed about in her pitcher, and a little spilled out leaving dark spots in the dust on her sandaled feet. Mary was quick to regain her footing and continue on home.

“There was much to discuss at the well today, Mary?” Mother smiled as she rescued the pitcher from Mary’s excited hands. Mary nodded and smiled. Mother remembered how it was to be betrothed to the one she had admired. Mother also remembered the chatter that went on among the young women at the well in Nazareth.

“I’m sorry I took so long, Mother. Hannah had many questions.”

“She always was a curious one, just like her mother. My sister drove our mother to distraction with her questions as we grew up.”

Mary reflected on the events of the last evening as she continued to help her mother with the meal preparations. She had been so surprised when Joseph showed up at their door before the evening meal. She almost forgot to invite him in, and when she did remember the words were hard in coming. One look into those eyes and all words took wing. She had been even more shocked when he asked to speak with her father. Although custom usually dictated that the two fathers arranged the marriages between a son and daughter, Joseph had come on his own behalf, his father having died when he was young. Besides, he was a man on his own and could speak for himself. He was quite capable of providing for a bride. His carpentry work was in high demand all around Galilee. And to think that he would choose her for a wife!!

Time passed as Mary and her family began the preparations for the coming marriage. Her garments had to be sewn and the items gathered for her dowry – fine linen and gold coins. Her father was a successful shepherd, but she and Joseph would have little need for sheep, or room to care for them.

Mary sang softly to herself as she cared for the lambs of her father’s flock. She would miss these young ones. They were her favorite job, always so much fun to watch and often they allowed her to cuddle them. Their antics never failed to amuse her as the frolicked around. A noise behind her startled her from her amusement and she turned. Standing behind her was a man, or was he? His face seemed to glow from within and his garments were unsoiled by the dust at his feet. Her breath caught in her throat. She felt afraid, but did not feel as though he would harm her.

“Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.”[1]

Mary trembled at his words. What kind of greeting was that? This man was obviously not from Galilee. He spoke as no one she had ever known. And why would he say she was highly favored among all women, she was just a young woman of Galilee. This person’s words were quite troubling indeed.

“Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”

Mary was shocked at his words! How could this thing happen? She was not yet married!

“How can this thing happen to me? I am a virgin.”

“The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

“I am here, a servant of the Lord. Let it happen to me just as you have said.”

The man turned and was gone. A warmth filled Mary’s stomach and she knew. To think that she was the chosen one for this honor. Israel had been waiting for the Messiah for four hundred years, to think that now was the time, and she was the woman. And from Galilee. But… OH… HOW was she to explain this to Joseph?

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[1] From the King James Version: www.crosswalk.com

Graphics courtesy of Graphics By Irene

Story copyright Charity M. December 2006. The author kindly requests that you seek her permission before using this story in any form. Thank you.

Lasting Influence

I have found, out in "blogdom," a few blogs that uphold some of the same values that I hold to - especially in terms of true womanhood. I came across this posting this evening, from The Pleasant Times blog, and thought that many of you would enjoy it and benefit from it. It is titled "Girls and their Influence."

Here are a couple of "teaser" quotes to get you started:

In regard to modesty:

If a girl dresses decently and modestly, a boy will have different conduct towards her than with other girls. Even if he is not acquainted with her, he may speak differently to her, use a more serious tone with her, be more sincere in conversation with her, than he would with immodest girls. Immodestly dressed girls are assumed to be immodest in conduct as well, so a boy will be inclined to take more liberties with his words and mannerisms and foolishness with her. He thinks she will like this kind of thing, whereas the girl who is modest and serious would not approve of any conduct less than a gentleman's.

In regard to life in general:

The girl I am describing will have a better time in life than the wild and unchecked girl. Boys will be more cautious not to offend her, and are more inclined to treat her right. Folks old and young will curb their swearing or idle talk when she is around. People will come to her for advice, or know she can be relied upon for certain responsibilities. She will secure men's good opinion wherever she goes. She will find doors opened for her in life, both literally and figuratively. She will find many friends to value, and who value her, and would not want to drag her down in the mire.

The Battle of the Mind

Most conflicts, if not all, begin with a single thought. (Wow, you might be saying, she sure is brilliant... or not. :) Well, let me continue.) Ofttimes the temptations we face and the internal battles we fight are brought on by a single train of thought. If this train is allowed to continue to roll around in our brains, it becomes longer and longer and may lead to a temptation in a certain area and then to sin. Where does the thought come from? Contrary to some beliefs, thoughts themselves are not sin, but it is what we do with those thoughts that can lead to sin.

Let me explain what I mean a little more. Satan knows his first battle ground in fighting for a soul is in the person's mind. Thus he sometimes plants thoughts in our brain, perhaps by whispering them in our ear or by having someone else bring the thought to our attention. (Hint: this is why it is sooo important to watch out for what we are putting in our minds with books, magazines, radio, other audio/visual media, and what we talk about with others! Sometimes it is better to be thought "dumb" about certain things, than to know things that are going to negatively affect your walk with Christ.)

Here is an example, maybe a little far fetched, but hopefully will get the point across: You are at the bank cashing the check your grandma sent for your birthday. Some thought enters your mind, "Rob the bank and you will be rich!" You think Where did that come from? but you continue to dwell on the thought as you wait in line. Maybe you don't do it this time, but as the days pass, you continue to allow your mind to go back to that train of though. Boy, I sure could use the money right now! My cell phone bill is due next week - all those texts sure do add up! So by the next time you go to the bank, you have decided to get rich quick! You rob the bank, the surveillance cameras record you, your picture is all over the news, you are arrested that evening for theft, and you spend the next twenty years paying for your crime! And all this would have been avoided, had you not dwelt on that first single thought!

So, really, you probably aren't going to be tempted to rob a bank, right? But Satan doesn't tempt us in things that have no appeal for us. He probably keeps a card file of everyone's personalities and is sure to tempt them in something that will have a chance of causing them to fall! So how do we fight this?? By starting where it all begins... thus, the battle of the mind!

Battle Strategy
I believe that every person fights this battle of the mind in one way or another. Here is a Scripture that God gave me this verse in 2 Corinthians 10, "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" Personally, I visualize myself binding up the thought and casting it out of my mind. And the guideline for inappropriate thoughts is does it go against God's laws? and of course it is pure, lovely, true, etc.... (Philippians 4:8) Not only do you need to bind up the thought and cast it out, but when it comes back to mind, because Satan doesn't always give up after one try, to remember that you have cast out that thought and make a conscience decision to not dwell on it and PRAY, for only with Christ can you truly win. This battle of the mind is fought over many different issues such as modesty, purity, life choices, and just fill in the blank for the battle that you are fighting! God has promised His help when we ask and also that He would never give us more than we can bear - 1 Corinthians 10:13.


**Image courtesy of www.south-africa-tourism.com

The Butterfly!

One more thought for today... I'm sure many of you love butterflies! I know I love to see them fluttering through the flowers in my yard, they are so beautiful and colorful! Did you know that their colors are not caused by pigment?? (pigment is what colors your eyes, skin and hair) The scales on a butterfly's wings don't contain this pigment, but the colors we see are a reflection of the sun light. In other words, if it were dark, we wouldn't see their color at all! Hummingbirds are the same way!

How does this apply to us? Our clothing should be a reflection of the SON Light - God's Son, Jesus! Without His light reflected in us and in our actions, we are just as dark as the rest of the world! But when we reflect Him, people see the beauty that He has created in us!

Someone is Watching!!

One of the factors that I've talked about in our modesty discussions is why do we wear certain things? to get attention? whose attention? While our main objective in clothing should not be to draw attention to ourselves, the fact remains that people notice what we wear! Maybe you've had someone stop you because of something they noticed about you? For my sister, it's her hair; for me (my hair is usually put up) it is usually my skirts and non-made-up face. Many people notice and appreciate a modest look, whether they always comment to you or not. I had on gentleman that came into where I work stop me and say "You are a beautiful lady." He was not being rude, his meaning was that he noticed that I dressed and acted like a lady and it showed. You might be surprised, as I was, at the people that notice your modest apparel and actions.

Not only are there people that notice what we look like, but what about the people that may be copying how we look? Each of us most likely has someone who looks up to us and wants to emulate (copy) our appearance or fashion sense, whether she is a sister, niece, cousin, or friend. I don't want to be one who sets a bad example for someone else, do you? You probably have those that you look up to for their fashion sense, I know I do. Maybe you have been disappointed by that person, but I hope not! And I hope and pray that we aren't a disappointment to someone else!

Very Profound

Ok, we all know that God give certain abilities to certain people, right? A lot of times we call these abilities gifts, like "she has the gift of playing the piano." or "he is gifted in public speaking." But does God always give us these gifts fully developed? Some people are born with a genius mind. We especially think of music like the six year old that can play Beethoven's Ninth for example. (I don't know if there is one, but probably somewhere, right?) :) I wasn't born with genius-type talents. Most people aren't... but God has given each one of us certain gifts.
Sometimes the best way to discover God's will for you life, is to look at the things that you do best. (Let's say you have a gift for singing... I don't think God would want you to spend your life in underwater basketweaving!) But you may not yet be the best you can be at the things you do best! Follow me? Let me put it this way, God gives us talents, but it is up to us to use those talents, learn how to use them more effectively (like going to school/college), and put those talents into practice. Your talents are God's investment in you, like money in the bank. It is up to you to invest those talents wisely, so when you have to give an account to God, you will be able to show what you have done for Him with what He gave you. (To read Jesus's parable of the talents see Matthew 25:14-30.)

Which Way?

As a young person, I know you have many decisions that you are facing - decisions with lifelong effects. To go to college or not, which college, what to major in, what kind of job to look for, what friends to hang out with, and what to do with the rest of your life! All these decisions can be overwhelming! The most important question to ask along with all these is "What is God's will for my life?" Sometimes finding God's will seems a little allusive. So how do you know?

I'm not going to tell you what God's will is for you life... other than to say that God's will for you is to honor and serve Him in all you do! (How is that for being general?? :) But it is the answer!!) As long as you desire to please God in all areas of your life and allow Him to take control, He will guide you in the right way. Does He tell us everything for our future now? You know the answer, of course not... if we knew everything we were to face in life, it would probably scare us to death! No, the answer to finding God's will is to keep looking for it, every day seeking how God would have you spend your time.

God will lead you in each of your choices. Some of the choices you are making may not seem to be that big to you right now, but when you look back a few years later, you will see God's leadership in using these choices for the big picture.

Isaiah 30:21 says "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." God is saying through this verse, that He is going to lead us in each step we take. God won't give you His entire plan for you life, but He will lead you in the right direction each day.

This has been a little different line of thought from what I've been commenting on in regard to modesty, but it is something I read about in one of my devos this morning and one of my friends has been making some life choices... I guess both combined has got me thinking. Anyone have any comments on how God has been leading you recently? I would love to hear about it!

Attention Please!!!!!

So why do we choose the clothing that we choose? Many times, clothing is chosen to attract attention, right? Maybe you can think of a few examples. Perhaps someone chooses clothing to get the attention of others their age, to attract friends or boyfriends. Maybe they choose certain items to get the attention of those in authority - parents or teachers. (Think of those outlandish characters you have seen roaming the mall... do you think they are trying to get attention?) Maybe some don't even know what kind of attention they want, they know they just want someone to notice them, and what they are really craving is unconditional love. (That could be an entirely different topic!)

The question is, why are you choosing the clothes that you do? Is it to get attention? If so, whose? Are you trying to attract compliments from others? If so, think about your reasons. Is it wrong to dress in a way that is attractive? No, of course not. But attracting attention should not be our primary motive when choosing/buying clothing. Who should we ultimately be trying to please with our wardrobe???? God!!! right?

Proverbs 31:30: "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised." One way of applying Scripture is to rephrase a verse in our own words. Here is my thoughts of what this verse means: What others say they think of us can be deceitful, and beauty really doesn't amount to anything lasting, but the woman that puts God first and reverences Him is promised praise.

I love reading good books! Here is a section from Little Women by Louisa Alcott, a dialogue between the oldest, Meg, and Marmee, that applies to this post today:

"I'll not be sentimental or dissatisfied, mother; I know I'm a silly little girl, and I'll stay with you till I'm fit to take care of myself. But it is nice to be praised and admired, and I can't help saying I like it," said Meg, looking half ashamed of the confession.
"That is perfectly natural, and quite harmless, if the liking does not become a passion, and lead one to do foolish or unmaidenly things. Learn to know and value the praise which is worth having, and to excite the admiration of excellent people by being modest as well as pretty, Meg."

Distinctive

"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made!!!" Psalm 139 is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. It describes how much God loves each one of us and how we are all uniquely designed by God. You are wonderfully designed by God. No two people are alike.

Another of my favorite verses is Revelation 2:17, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." Have you ever had a nickname? A person might give you a nickname because she is such a good friend and knows you so well. The names don't always make sense, at least not to other people, but it is something fun between you and the other person. (just for fun, post your favorites in comments.) The last part of this verse says that God wants to give you a special name just between you and Him. It is a way of showing how much He loves you. This name is unique to you, it defines who you are according to the One who made you uniquely you!

God wants to define you... to show you who you truly are and who you are to become as you mature in Him. Are you allowing God to name you, to define who you are becoming? Or are you allowing others to do it. I don't mean just nicknames here - I mean who you are as a person, as a young woman growing in Christ. Are you letting other people put you in a box and label who you are to become, or are you asking God to give you what He has for you? Are you letting God give you the freedom to be all that he made you to be?

"So," you ask, "how does this connect with modesty?" I am soo glad you asked!! :) Who are you allowing to tell you what to wear? Is it the latest fashion magazine? What all your friends/classmates are wearing? Or will you let God make your "fashion statement?" (Through His Word, your conscience, or your parents instructions) When you are more concerned with pleasing God through your dress than fitting in with the crowd, you are free to become truly modest.

One more thought on unique, God made us all different, with different tastes. We each have our own style! For example... my sister likes all things bright and sparkley, we tease her about needing sunglasses to go in her room... crazy daisies, anyone??? I, on the other hand, tend to be more classic in my style in my home and in my wardrobe - although I do have my moments... like those hot pink, patent leather shoes I just bought.... Hey, they were only $5!! :) Ok, back to the point, don't be afraid to enjoy your style... no one else is going to do it for you! "Remember, God made you special and He loves you very much!"
Be Uniquely You!!!

What to wear?

As girls that desire God's best, we should pay attention to what people see when they look at us. Do people see a flashy chick who is trying to draw attention to herself through her clothes, or do we reflect Christ and draw others to Him?

One of my favorite verses regarding "clothing" is found in Proverbs 31:25-26: "Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness." Go grab your Bible and let's look at Proverbs 31. I'll wait..... OK, the woman described in Proverbs 31 is like the ultimate woman. She works very hard to care for her family and all in her household (v. 15, 21), she is a shrewd business woman (v. 16), she is very strong physically (v. 17), she cares about those in need (v. 20), and she dresses well (v. 22). Wow! I don't know about you, but that is a lot for me to live up to. But the Bible isn't finished yet, in the verses I quoted above, she is clothed in strength and honor. How do you see this woman? I see her as someone of high moral character. She has a strength of character that people recognize this just by looking at her. Whenever she says something, it is wise and kind. (She must think a lot before she speaks... great lesson for all of us!)

So back to the question in my title: What to wear? We need to be attired with strength, honor, wisdom, and kindness. When we go out of our home, and people look at us, shouldn't they see a young lady of great moral strength and character that speaks with wisdom and kindness and truly desires God's will for her life? -and not someone who desires to look like the models in the latest magazine as much her parents will let her?

What Guidlines?

So how do we know what is modest and what isn't? I will get into some more specifics later, but for now the question is, where is our standard coming from? I see a lot of different standards of modesty, and even in churches there is a wide range of ideas of what is modest. So what do we compare ourselves to, or should we? What about "if ____ wears it, then it must be o.k." or "I am more modest than ____ so I must be modest." Is this your standard?

Here is my challenge: read what God's word has to say! Hmmm... profound right? :) We can't use this world as a standard, obviously!! And frankly, we shouldn't use even our Christian friends. God wants to deal with each of us individually. (and by the way, God gave you to your parents for a reason! He hand picked you for them. Talk to them about what is modest and what isn't.)

Basically, don't allow yourself to get all caught up in what is "cool." (anyway, what is cool this week, won't be the next, so why waste money?) My method is to stick with some basic stuff that doesn't go out of style each season, make these things your bigger investments. Then spend just a little on accents that will help you look up to date. NEWS FLASH: being modest doesn't mean dressing weird, or way out of style. It means reflecting Christ in the way you dress!

The Heart

So to summarize, the important thing to remember about modesty is that it starts in the heart. To be truly modest, you should ask God to help you to desire a heart that wants to be modest. So we should focus on having modest desires. How? Well, when we give our desires to God, He will mold them into desires that follow His heart. It means giving up self, or selfish desires, and allow God to lead us. This is a very simple definition of entire sanctification - giving up selfishness and allowing God control of your life.

Maybe you know someone or have seen someone who wears the "right" clothes, but for some reason just doesn't seem to be a modest person? Maybe her actions or words speak of immodesty. Perhaps this person doesn't desire modesty from the heart, but is just dressing a certain way because it is required. Do you think that this person has truly given God her all? Here is a shocker, just because a person wears a certain type of clothing doesn't make them a Christian! The same for what church they go to, books they read, music they listen to... the list goes on! What really matters is what is in the heart!!

Definitions

So what do those words mean? Sobriety refers simply to soberness of mind or temperance, or as we would term it, self control - one of the fruits of the Spirit. Shamefacedness is the Greek work aidos which means a sense of shame or honor, modesty, bashfulness, reverence, regard for others, respect. Think about each of the words in the definition for a minute.

• "sense of shame or honor" God wants us to act with honor, to be honorable, or to have a sense of what is honorable.

• "Modesty" can be defined not only as a way of dressing, but also not being proud or vain. One of the things that God hates, according to Proverbs six, is a proud look.

• "Bashfulness" Someone who is bashful, isn't trying to draw attention to themselves. As Christians, shouldn't our goal be to draw attention to God and not to ourselves?

• "Reverence" We are to have respect for the things of God and what He tells us through His Word

• "Regard for others" This one should be obvious. As a person who desires to honor God, shouldn't we show His love to others and be considerate of others?

• "Respect" This word goes along with reverence and regard for others. We should have respect for God and other people. I can also add having respect for God's creation and being good stewards of the world He has created for us.
  

This is the description of a godly woman given in 1 Timothy. It is a lot to live up to. We can only become this person with God's help.

Modesty 101

What is up with all the talk about modesty? Does God really care what we wear? The next several posts will be taken from my study on modesty and will be an attempt to explain the importance of modesty.
Most of you would probably agree that you like clothes, right? I know I do, and I enjoy putting together different outfits, finding things on sale, like a cute new pair of shoes, and even sewing a few of my own designs sometimes. But is modesty, like beauty, only skin deep? I don't believe so. I am of the opinion that God cares more than just the appearance of modesty. Like the Bible says in 1 Samuel 16:7 "for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."
One of the key passages about modesty is 1 Timothy 2:9-10 which says, "9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works." Well, there are a couple of million dollar words: shamefacedness and sobriety. What do they mean? Just keep reading! :)