Intentional ~ Feminine Dress

Over the past few years the Lord has gently impressed upon my heart the truth that the way a woman presents herself is important. Her presentation - demeanor, spirit, attitude, dress, etc. will either glorify the Lord and bring honor to her husband or not. With this in mind I would like to share a wonderful blog series on this topic - A Portrait of Feminine Dress by Jacqueline at Deep Roots at Home. I hope these wonderful pictures inspire you as much as they did me. Be sure to read the entire series. Enjoy.

A pure woman is one who is less concerned about trendiness than about what a particular trend communicates about character. ~Lydia Brownback

It's so easy today to base our choices on what's readily available and on what everyone else is wearing.  After all, we think, it can't be immodest if we blend in with everyone around us.  But we are kidding ourselves here.  A more accurate assessment as to whether an article of clothing is God-glorifying involves both our motive for wearing it and the effect it has on the men around us.  The old saying "she wears her heart on her sleeve" can be taken beyond the realm of romance to the realm of character. ~Lydia Brownback

Women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control. ~1 Timothy 2:9

Do not let your adorning be external - the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear - but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. ~1 Peter 3:3-4

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. ~Romans 12:1-2

Time & Intentionality

This morning I've been thinking about time. About how I never seem to have enough of it. How I feel like I am always chasing after it. Trying to catch it. Slow it down. Stop it. There are so many things to do each day.

I wish I could capture time. Keep it. Tell it to wait so that I can get everything done. Yet, I suppose I'm getting the things done that the Lord wants me to get done...or maybe not. Intentionality must play a part. If I am intentionally using my time, will I still be chasing after it? Seems not, and yet...craziness happens despite my best intentions to be intentional.

I've been pondering intentionality. Questioning what it looks like lived out and how I can stay motivated enough to be consistently intentional. I have a tendency to decide to do something and then completely forget that I made the decision to do it. There is just so much going on...time spinning fast.

I want to live an intentional life. Intentional for Christ. In every. aspect. of. my. life. Yes.

The question is:  what does an intentional or intentionally lived life look like? In real time. Time crammed full with children. School. Noise. Screaming toddlers. Sickness. Laughter. Good. Bad. Boring. Exciting. Life.

A life of purpose. A life of beauty. A life of order. A life of love. A life of sacrifice. A life of praise. A life well lived. Christ.

Yet, how? What is it? What does it look like? And how do I find time and strength to attain and maintain it? Revolutions in my mind.

Elisabeth Elliot's famous words come to mind..."do the next thing". And yet,...

I was reading another blog that I enjoy and the author was answering a question from a reader who asked how the author of the blog never got tired of being intentional. The author answered that she does get tired, but that it is a good tired. I agree. Work is good. Being intentional is good (and important), but I also agree with the questioner. Living an intentional life is not easy. It is tiring. Especially for a wife whose husband is often absent due to long work hours or other obligations. Intentionality then falls primarily on the wife/mother - and for a mother of many this can be a tiring thing. A difficult thing.

Weary. There is always the call of the couch. Do you hear it? It calls, "come and sit for you are weary". The computer calls too, "come and lose yourself in endless web pages and other's words". And books. They call too. And the shower. Ha!

As mothers we must laugh. Find humor in the crazy. Proverbs 31 says, "she laughs at the time to come". I've been thinking that we must laugh at the days that are. Today. This moment. It helps us stay sane. Or me at least.

My husband is once again teaching from 1 Peter. This book of the Bible is all about intentional living. Holy living. Glorifying God. Good works. Following Christ. And suffering. I'm going to try to carve out a few free minutes today to delve into it's pages and see what I can glean about living intentionally.

But now another is calling me from his crib. His babbles say, "Momma, come and get me. I am awake. I'm ready for the day. No more sleep. Here I am!" And so I go...to begin my intentional day or not. We shall see.

May the Lord bless you my sweet friends.

More on Motherhood

Motherhood gives us the opportunity to interact with history. Our prayers don’t just become part of protecting our children from harm and from hazards of their own making. With God in control, our prayers for our children can make a mark on our nation. True women, like Hannah (see 1 Samuel 1-2), trust God enough to believe He has great things planned for the babies He has given us - babies we give back to Him for His use, His kingdom, His glory. -Janet Parshall

On Motherhood

Motherhood gives us feelings of fuzzy blankets and baby rattles and toys to line the crib. But motherhood is actually one of God’s refining fires. The reality of motherhood is that it’s a place to learn surrender, letting go, trusting and believing that God is God. -Janet Parshall

On Loan

Our children do not now - nor have they ever - belonged to us. They are God’s. We are simply the happy participants in His lend-lease program. He gives us permission to touch their hearts and minds, to teach them, to write truth on the tablets of their life, to help them know the love of Christ the Savior, to inspire in them a love for God and His Word…and then they go. They’re His, and His alone. -Janet Parshall

In Due Time

They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son.   1 Samuel 1:19-20

In due time…the sickness will pass.
In due time…my three year old will consistently use the potty.
In due time…we will have a few pennies to spare.
In due time…the baby will be born.
In due time…we will not be so busy.
In due time…________________?


Dear sisters, in due time the season will turn and whatever hardship or painful situation you are facing (which in hind sight might actually prove to have been good for you - a blessing even) will pass. Trust that God is good even when life doesn’t seem so. For now trust and obey, walk out your faith and trust in God even when it is dark, hold fast to God’s promises for if you do then in due time it will be over and God will be glorified.


In due time. Such a precious promise.

And finally - “in due time” - God’s answer came rushing through. “Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, ‘I have asked for him of the Lord' (1 Samuel 1:20)". Still trusting. -Janet Parshall

Stumble Find

So this morning I stumbled upon a beautiful blog and I just have to share. It is called Just a Family. Be sure to check it out and be sure to read this post. It mirrors my heart. I love what she (I'm not sure what the author's name is, but I think it is Robin) says here...

Everyday being his wife and being their mommy is work but I signed up for it and I plan on finishing well.
Its not how you start that's so important it's how you finish that counts. I'm not working myself out of a job. I plan on working until I die. My hands being useful. My hands always eager to help others.
Being useful to those who need me. Complacency kills the creativity that God intended for us to have. When I'm busy it keeps me out of trouble.:)
One of the most said comments to me when I'm out is, "you have your hands full". yes, I do and unfortunately women have decided that having your hands full is a bad thing.
Everyone is working towards an easier life and that easy life draws you away from the very heart of God. The service of loving and being dependable. Caring for others and doing for others is being lost in our world for that easier life.  -from Just A Family (bolding mine) you can read the entire post here.

Prayer Droplets

Too many women are in bondage to the man-made myth that everyone should pray in one great big gush early each morning. But rather than praying a river at an appointed time every day, I would suggest a more reasonable and feasible option for a busy mother: pray in “droplets” throughout the day. Not only is this achievable, it is biblical. We are instructed to pray “without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) and to let our souls follow close behind Him as His right hand holds us up (Psalm 63:8).

 What better way to follow close behind Him than to read snippets of Scripture and pray in droplets throughout the day? As you care for your children, interact with neighbors, and chat with store clerks, “let your tongue speak of His righteousness and of His praise all the day long” (Psalm 35:28). God is your refuge - make clinging to Him every moment become a disciplined habit, even as others look on:

I have become a wonder to many, But You are my strong refuge. Let my mouth be filled with Your praise and with Your glory all the day. (Psalm 71:7-8, NKJV)

                                                        -Stacy McDonald

Titus 2-Not a Tea Party Philosophy

The call to Biblical Womanhood is not about doing a right set of things it is about understanding God’s heart for women in this nation. And so as we exemplify God’s spirit, His personality through our lives as we are wives and mothers, or single women following the call of God we are exemplifying to a watching world who God is. -Holly Elliff

Exemplifying to a watching world Who God Is.

From the True Women blog, an interview with Holly Elliff



Women who are courageous enough to go to God’s Word and to say, ‘What do you desire of me as a wife, as a mother, as a single?’ -Holly Elliff

That is a True Woman.

True Womanhood

True womanhood is a distinctive calling of God to display the glory of His Son in ways that would not be displayed if there were no womanhood.

Your womanhood, your true womanhood was made for the glory of Christ.
-John Piper

If you missed the True Woman conference in Fort Worth (or any of the other True Women conferences), you can now hear and see them HERE.

Recognizing Our "Sin Alarm"

Our emotions are a warning system God graciously gave us to attract attention to the sin in our hearts. When we’re not experiencing loving feelings toward our husbands, that’s an alarm going off: ding, ding, ding. There may be sin that needs attention. I keep one of Jonathan Edwards resolutions in front of my devotional notebook and seek to make it my personal resolution. He said, "Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination.”Whenever our “sin alarm” (unloving feelings) goes off, we must examine our hearts and repent of any sin we find there. This is how we maintain a tender love toward our husbands. (bolding mine)-from Feminine Appeal: Seven Virtues of a Godly Wife and Mother by Carolyn Mahaney

Are you loving your closest neighbors?
My dear husband has often said that we can't really love our next door neighbor (Galatians 5:14) until we first love our closest neighbor - our spouse. He has told me that the order should be something like this: God, husband/wife (our closest and dearest neighbor), children, world.

Voddie Baucham writes this in Family Driven Faith, "It is my relationship with my wife and children that gives my walk with Christ legitimacy....If my wife does not qualify as my neighbor, who does? How could I possibly make an argument for the integrity of my walk with Christ if I can't love my closest neighbors?"

Do you dread the Mundane?

Invite in the Glorious.

HT: The Stay-at-Home Missionary

Walk with the King

Courtney from Women Living Well is so cute and her words are so wise. I hope you enjoy the following video blogs by her. The first one made me smile and of course I agree with her 100%. In the video she shares how she tells her children to build their block houses with a “firm foundation” and that when their houses fall down it is because the “houses” have not been built with a firm foundation (Proverbs 18:10). I smiled because I can’t count the number of times I’ve had this same or similar conversations with my own children. We talk about God as our “foundation” often. Remember to scroll down and turn off the music.



And here is Courtney sharing how to fold a fitted sheet. I have some sort of inability to fold fitted sheets (called impatience and lack of training) so I loved this idea and put it to use. Now my linen closet looks nice and neat. Great idea!

And here is Courtney and her husband on Rachel Ray (if you have little ones in the room, you might want to wait until later to watch this one). I don’t watch Rachel Ray (or any other daytime TV) but this is a neat piece and honestly it is me too - not exactly, but very similar. I confess that I am a 50’s wife.(Although I prefer thinking of myself as a pioneer wife - as in wagon trains, Oregon Trail, and dust - willing to follow my husband into the great unknown if asked to do so - being like a wife on Mad Men. Not! They have lovely clothes, but there is not much else I would want to copy.) And I love it! No, it isn’t always easy and it is often tiring, but it is a good tired. I am happy and it is a blessing but I would be discontented with anything I tried to do if I didn’t have a firm foundation and (try to) daily “walk with the King” of Kings. Amen!

The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed I have a beautiful inheritance. -Psalm 15:5-6

Joy, joy, sweet, elusive joy

Joy. It is what makes us stand out from the world around us.

Joy is always available to those indwelt by the Holy Spirit, which is why gloominess is a copout.

Joy and Christ-centeredness go hand-in-hand, so if we lack joy more often than we have it might the truth be that we aren’t Christ-centered? Surely, for some of us, it is. Even those of us going through a season of darkness can pursue joy, trusting that God designed us for it. Sooner or later, in Christ, we will find it. The trick for some of us is to change our self-oriented, worldly focus to Christ, and for others it is to take a fresh hold of God’s promises that no matter how dark life seems, he is going to push you out into the light.

These wise (and tough) words are from a small devotional entitled joy a godly woman’s adornment (the title is all lowercase) by Lydia Brownback. I haven’t read very far yet, but so far so worthy. I’m thinking that this is the type of book one needs to give away - and often.

And the title.

Isn’t the title wonderful. It even caught my husband’s eye.

Joy can seem to be so elusive, so easily stolen or lost. How I long to constantly be adorned with joy.

Adorned with it.

Clothed in it.

Crowned by it.

Filled with it.

Do not let your adorning be external...but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with imperishable beauty... -1 Peter 3:3-4

Moodiness, which comes upon me every so often, is my foe. I try to fight it but there are times when I seem to forget that I am indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

There have been times when I’ve thought that I’ve lost my “joy” (as though I own it or can produce it myself). I’ve complained about it. Valleys. But it is at such times (and many others) that my husband is so very good about taking me to task…one of the blessings (or not, depending on my mood) of being married to a godly man who is also a student and teacher of the Word.

A little more from the book…

No matter what we give up for the sake of Christ and knowing God better, joy is going to result. Initially, it might not seem that way. The man in the parable (Matthew 13:44) had to sell all he had in order to buy the field. The time of sale is usually where we are tempted to stop. We find the kingdom of heaven, but we don’t go all out to possess it fully and to let it possess us. We want Jesus but not necessarily costly discipleship. We want a kind heavenly Father, but not a disciplining one. We want our character bettered but not transformed. We want the benefits of Christianity without the cost, a price we must pay if we would go the whole way into the Christian life. … Fence-sitters can’t know the joy of the man in the parable. Holding back is a joy killer. … When we are facing death of self, the costliness of discipleship, we are likely to pull back unless we remember the promise we have been given about how it will all turn out. The man in Jesus’ parable wound up owning the field. And Jesus said that those who lose their lives - all the earthly things they lean on for happiness and security - will find what they have been looking for all along. God will see to that.-from Joy a godly woman’s adornment by Lydia Brownback

O Christ, All thy ways of mercy tend to and end in my delight. Thou didst weep, sorrow, suffer that I might rejoice. For my joy thou hast sent the Comforter, multiplied thy promises, shown me my future happiness, given me a living fountain. Thou are preparing joy for me and me for joy; I pray for joy, wait for joy, long for joy; give me more than I can hold, desire, or think of. Measure out to me my times and degrees of joy, at my work, business, duties. If I weep at night, give me joy in the morning. -from The Valley of Vision/Joy

Lord, adorn me in joy. Amen.

Girls Gone Wise

I mentioned here that I am reading Mary A. Kassian’s book Girls Gone Wise in a World Gone Wild. As a follow up I wanted to let you know that Mary Kassian is (has been) teaching through her book via a video book blog. You can watch the first few lessons/chapters here.

Below is today’s lesson which I am posting because today she taught on modesty and you know that is one of my interests.




Today’s lesson reminded me of something that Nancy L. DeMoss said in one of her lessons on modesty. She said (and I’m going to paraphrase) that our clothing should glorify God.

In today’s lesson Mrs. Kassian said something similar that we should all take to heart. She said that our clothes are a reflection of Christ in us. That is something to really ponder (and to think about the next time we go swimming). What does “Christ in us” look like when it is reflected by the clothes we wear? Lots to ponder.

Clothing is an outward, visible symbol of an inward, spiritual reality. When you “put on Christ,” He covers your shame and makes you what you should be. He offers you His garments, “so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen” (Revelation 3:18). His covering makes us decent (Galatians 3:27). Without it, we are indecent. The physical clothing we wear is supposed to bear witness to that fact. It testifies that the Lord covers our sin and makes us presentable. That’s why we need to cover our bodies in public. That’s why public nakedness is inappropriate. -from Girls Gone Wise by Mary A. Kassian

Wise Words from 1655

Parents, your children have souls which God expects you to nourish with at least as much care as you lavish on their physical needs. Who will teach them if not you? No one is surprised to hear that a ship put out to sea without a compass has sunk or run aground. Why should we be surprised to see children wander far from God, when they have received no spiritual direction?

I believe a man calls in question his own Christianity if he does not bother to acquaint his child with God and the way that leads to Him. I will even go so far as to say I have never known a true saint who was not deeply concerned about his child’s relationship with the heavenly Father.

You will give a poor account at the Last Day if all you can say is, ‘Lord, here are my children. I bred them gentlemen and left them wealthy.’ What a mocking witness to your own folly that you would do so much for that which rusts, and nothing for a knowledge of God unto salvation, which endures forever!

Faith will not grow without planting, and will die even where it is planted unless it is watered and fertilized with the Word of God. Atheism, irreligion, and profanity, on the other hand, not only grow without planting, but will not die without forceful plucking up. Indeed, they thrive best in an untended soul - until simple ignorance and disbelief in the child become willful attitudes in the man.

When a child breaks one of God’s commandments, it is his sin; but it is also the father’s if he never taught the child what the commandment of God was. Wicked children become heavy crosses to their parents. When a father or mother must trace the source of wickedness to his or her own neglect in training the child, cross is laid upon cross and the load becomes unbearable. Can there be a greater heartache in this life than to see your own child running full speed toward hell, and know that you were the one who outfitted him for the race? Oh, do your best while they are young and in your constant care, to win them to God and set them on the road to heaven.

Training your children up in the ways of the Lord is no casual suggestion, but a solemn command given to all Christian parents. Your refusal to obey, whether the product of deliberation or neglect, will pay you bitter wages when you stand before the King of kings in judgment.
- passages from The Christian in Complete Armour volume 1 by William Gurnall

Win Evenings with Victoria Botkin

Some of you might recall that in March I mentioned that Victoria Botkin would be sharing some of the wisdom she has garnered over her many (something like 30) years of marriage and her experience as a mother of seven children. This is Titus 2 at its best. Unfortunately, at the time I was only able to listen to the free portion of the message but I’m sure and certain that it was a blessing - and a very practical help as well.

So, if you, like me, did not have the opportunity to listen to the entire series or even if you are just now learning about it, here is your opportunity to win the MP3 version of all 9 messages. All you have to do is leave a comment here by June 8th at 8 PM. So simple.





Btw, I simply have to plug Raising Homemakers. I am so excited about this new site. If you have one daughter or many daughters, you will want to peruse this site in depth as it is a site dedicated to helping mothers raise their daughters as pillars to the LORD.

Snipet

Wanda’s disappointment in her new family’s lack of feminist perspective was gradually replaced by the understanding that you don’t always have to see eye to eye to love, be loved, or even be close. Miriam, Sam, and Virginia had other things to teach her, other fruit to offer. As she observed the senior Leverings’ marriage, she noted that a balance of power had been struck, that although Miriam was no feminist, she was strong, firm, and clear in where she stood. She was nobody’s chump. Sam seemed to adore his wife even if she crossed him. – from Simple Living – One Couple’s Search for a Better Life

The way we live our life in front of others makes a difference. The everyday things we do can speak volumes even when we are relatively silent about our faith. (Wanda’s in-laws Sam and Miriam Levering were staunch Quakers. I think Virginia was her sister-in-law.)

The first sentence is important too. Something to ponder - you don't always have to see eye to eye to love, be loved, or even be close.

From Mary A. Kassian's new book

Girls Gone Wise in a World Gone Wild

I have talked to thousands of women who have fallen into sin because they were unconcerned about their exposure to worldliness and complacent about pondering the way of the Lord. You are mistaken if you think that going to church for an hour a week will counteract the influence of thirty-three hours of TV. Do not think that you can constantly listen to ungodly counsel and remain uninfluenced by it - especially if you are not in the habit of pursuing godly input. Daily exposure to the world’s way without a counteracting exposure to God’s way will kill you just as surely as ingesting bits of poison without an antidote will. -from Girls Gone Wise in a world gone wild by Mary A. Kassian

Amen!

I think you will be reading quite a few passages from this book over the next few days or weeks.

And (hand-in-hand with this book) - Modesty Revisited

For the last few weeks I’ve been listening to Nancy L. DeMoss teach on Modesty. I don’t even know what to say - my dear husband is getting tired of listening to me talk about it (and the questions) and still I'm pondering (and praying) about the messages and yesterday I was almost in tears as I considered myself and my life (and I consider myself fairly modest). And I have to confess that the concept of being responsible for my brothers in Christ just weighs me down…it almost immobilizes me…which brings me to this…if you are my brother in Christ and I have in any way been immodest and caused you to sin I sincerely apologize.

Ladies, I'd like to suggest that you listen to Nancy’s lessons on modesty and really ponder and pray about what she has to say - I think that you will be challenged - even if you think that you are modest. Btw, one of the simple truths that I've realized over the course of listening to these lessons and reading a few blogs by some amazing young women (who are seeking to dress modestly and live Christ centered lives - and really impress me and make me hope and pray that my sons find girls like these to marry) is that modesty and femininity are not the same thing. One can be modest without being the least bit feminine. And I think that if we look at our roles - created male and female - women are supposed to act and dress in a feminine manner.

One last thing...if you have been intrigued by this topic, another lesson on this subject that just rocked my world was this sermon by C.J. Mahaney - all I can say is, “Wow!”

If you have time to listen to only one thing (and surely you have more time than that), listen to Mahaney.

P.S. I once asked if this outfit was modest. I've since come to the conclusion that it was not. My skirt was too short and so was Bessie's. Plus, with the rain, t-shirts were a bad, bad idea. (Not that I knew it was going to rain, but that doesn't matter.) And...I'm not a spring chicken any more so I am presently pondering whether I should even wear t-shirts at all. The question then becomes, what do I wear on a casual day? All I've ever known is t-shirts (and jeans). Dressing up to go somewhere special (church) is easy...but figuring out what to wear on a casual day is not.

Titus 2

If you’ve never had the privilege of listening and learning from Victoria Botkin (Curriculum Advice 1 & 2), here is your opportunity to do so. Follow this link and look for the italicized word “here”. Click it and listen. (And if you have an extra $49 you might even consider signing up for Evenings with Victoria Botkin. I’m certain that you will be blessed.)

Anyway, here are a few of the questions she will answer on the free clip…

How to get everything done – laundry, dishes, school, etc.
When and how do I further my husband’s vision?
What is the difference between biblical hospitality and entertaining? And how to find time for either.
Questions about child training and relationships between children.
More.

If you home school and you’ve never listened to Curriculum Advice 1 & 2, you should. I found part two especially helpful, but both recordings are encouraging and enlightening.

Curriculum Advice 1
Curriculum Advice 2