Weekend Worship - Does Your Spiritual Life Resemble Your Car?

I have heard it said by more than one person on more than one occasion that the state of your vehicle reflects the state of your walk with the Lord. Translation: If your car is always a mess, your spiritual life is likely a mess. Or....If your car is always spotless, you may very well have your walk with the Lord in order.

I was thinking on this idea today while driving (of course, while driving) and I have to say that it seems to be true for me. For those of you who don't live with me - and that would be all of you, dear readers - allow me to explain the typical status of my van:

About once a month, I get the urge to SERIOUSLY clean the van. I mean a take-the-seats-out-and-vacuum-and-wash-the-insides-of-the-windows-and-remove-every-last-penny-from-the-penny-tray kind of clean. After about an hour of hardcore work, my van is basically spotless and beautiful. I love it. But then I have to put the car seats back in.

Once the car seats enter the scene, I become just slightly depressed at the sight of how much smaller everything seems. There is suddenly far less room and for a brief moment in time, I tend to wish I didn't have so many small children who require such bulky arrangements. But alas, my children are a gift from the Lord and I love them to death...so I keep the car seats.

As the days go on, Sunday School papers begin to float in. I don't know who ever had such a brilliant idea as to send each child home with at least 3 papers per class, but whoever that person was....we're not chums. Having two toddlers doubles the papers, of course. Oftentimes I sneakily throw them out on the way out the church doors, but it usually comes back to haunt me when one of my children says to me later in the day, "Mommy, did you see my picture?"

I know many of you are thinking about what a terrible mother I am right now, but seriously....I refuse to keep every single piece of paper my children color. If I did, we would already have a closet full, and my oldest child is only 3.

Moving on....fast food. I admit it, we sometimes grab fast food. It's usually Chick-Fil-A, since we have like a bazillion coupons for Chick-Fil-A. Or if it's morning, every once in a while, the kids and I will grab Burger King. What can I say? I'm a sucker for giant creepy plastic kings. But the bags....ohhhh, those paper bags. I don't know what it is about them, but they just seem to nestle themselves right down into my passenger floor. Sure, I'll throw a bag out every once in a while, but mostly I just find them buried under my seat weeks later.

And then there's the toys the kids bring out to the van when I'm not looking, the diaper bag that gets torn apart in order to find one remaining diaper at the bottom of the bag, the mail I grab on my way down the driveway, my water bottle, workout towel, the extra coats, blankets, and lost shoes. Oh my, it gets to be messy!

And then...that glorious day comes when I decide that TODAY IS THE DAY. The van is thoroughly cleaned and the process begins again. It's a horrible pattern, really, but I'm just not sure how to break it. I blame it on the kids mostly - and it is partially their fault - but seriously, who's the parent?

Back to the topic at hand. How much does my van resemble my spirutual life? Remarkably well, unfortunately. You see, I have these same terrible habits when it comes to reading my Bible, spending time in prayer, and really being (can I use the age-old phrase?) "on fire" for the Lord. I have moments when I feel that I absolutely MUST change things in my life or...or....well, I just MUST. And so I do. I devote more time to the Lord. I read my Bible often and pray fervently. I begin to see changes in my life that I know are absolutely not possible without the power of the Holy Spirit. But then....slowly....I find myself slipping back into that same old pattern of sin, or if not the same one, a new one. And it tends to go on until I have another one of those MUST CHANGE moments. And that's the process.

Now, lest I sound completely depressing, there are definitely areas where the Lord has given me victory over sin! I don't know if I worded that right. He always has the power over sin, but sometimes I just choose to ignore it. Choose to try to do things on my own. Choose to do life the way I want to rather than the way He wants me to. And that's when my downfall comes. But praise the Lord that He continually brings me back to the place of MUST CHANGE over and over again. Because if He didn't, there's no way I would willingly choose to be there. He is so gracious to me.

-----END CONFESSION-----

I realize that was awfully personal and I'm not really asking that you get that personal, but what I am asking is this: Examine your life and see if this analogy proves true for your life too. I'd love to know if your car (van/truck/etc) is very much like your walk with the Lord or if you think that's just a bunch of bologna! If nothing else, I hope this post has at least glorified God in His neverending grace to us!

So if you're willing....tell me I'm not alone.

Weekend Worship

Sometimes the Lord gives. Sometimes He takes away. (Job 1.20) And sometimes He does both at the same time! Head over here to Cari's blog to read some REALLY exciting news!

(For any of you who have not been following my blog very long, Cari and Andy just lost their 8-month old baby girl about 6 weeks ago.)

Weekend Worship - We Are Witnessing a Miracle!

Yesterday morning was the funeral for (and celebration of) little Caden Joelle's life. The visitation was somewhat somber (as to be expected), but once the service began, amazingly much of the sadness turned to joy. Our pastor's spoke, of course, but the amazing thing was that Cari and Andy were also able to speak. They shared with those in attendance about Caden's life. They talked about the things she loved, the things she didn't love, and the plans they had made for her. And, as Cari so eloquently put it, we are indeed witnessing a miracle.

It's a miracle that they would be strong enough in the Lord to stand up at their own daughter's funeral and speak about her with happiness in their voices. It was a miracle to see them smiling, laughing, and sharing fond memories of her - their only child who had passed away so suddenly at only 8 months of age. And this morning, I personally witnessed what I thought to be the most amazing miracle of all.

Cari and Andy were in the row next to and in front of us this morning in church. I could not help but continue to glance over at Cari as she poured her heart out in song to her Savior. She was so happy. So content. So peaceful. The joy I see in her and Andy is a miracle that only the Lord can accomplish.

Yesterday during the visitation, as my eyes welled with tears, Cari asked me how I was doing. I whimpered back, "I'm supposed to be asking you that." She responded with, "I'm doing fine. Everyone's praying for me. Who's praying for you?"

At dinner last night, a friend of mine relayed to me Cari's words to her as she went through the visitation line: "It's not fair, Amanda. She's in heaven already."

Every time I have spoken with Cari this weekend, she has thanked me repeatedly for all I have done for them. I'm not even sure that I've done anything, but I am so amazed that she is carrying on an attitude of thankfulness during this time.

I cannot describe to you the faith that has been given to Andy and Cari during this time, but I praise the Lord for fulfilling His promise to never leave us or forsake us. He has comforted them in ways I would never have thought possible. They are so at peace knowing that God wanted little Caden to come home to Him and that His timing is perfect.

Things tend to get harder when all the commotion settles down and the prayers stop flowing incessantly, so please continue to pray for Andy, Cari, and their families. Again, if you wish to leave your condolences, please visit their family blog.

Weekend Worship

While driving in the car this evening, I thought of a great series I could do for Weekend Worship. It needs some research though, which is why it didn't start today. But look forward to hearing about how you can know if you're in the middle of God's will for your life....in the weeks to come. :)

Weekend Worship - We Don't Have To Sin For God's Plan To Succeed

In our church fellowship group we've been studying the book of Genesis. We have an excellent teacher who delves deeply into each verse and chapter, helping us glean the absolute most information possible. He routinely asks how we can apply what we are learning about the Old Testament characters to our own life.

For the past several weeks (well, ok - probably months) we've been studying the life of Abraham. Abraham made a lot of stupid mistakes, but regardless of those mistakes, he was still a great man of God! He never doubted the Lord's faithfulness, but sometimes he thought he needed to give God a "leg up". Let's look at a quick recap of part of Abraham's life....

Starting in Genesis 12, God slowly begins to reveal His plan for Abraham. He continues to reveals little pieces of the big picture through Abraham's life but, as God often does, He takes His time. In chapter 15 God reveals to Abraham that his seed will bring forth a son who will make Abraham the father of multitudes. Then God chooses to be silent. While Abraham is waiting out in left field, his wife Sarah continues to grow older and older. When she sees that she is no longer able to bear children, she suggests that Abraham marry her servant. (While this was a normal practice of the day, this was still unacceptable in God's sight). Abraham, being the sissy that he is, agrees with his wife and takes her servant to be his 2nd wife. Hagar, the servant, conceives and gives Abraham a son, Ishmael.

Problem solved, right? Wrong. God did not instruct Abraham to sin in order to fulfill His plan. He is God Almighty! He can (and does) do the impossible! Abraham took things into his own hands instead of allowing God to work in His timing for His perfect result.

Of course, God did eventually open Sarah's womb and she did bear a son, Isaac, who was the promised son all along.

Abraham didn't ruin God's plan since God's plans cannot be thwarted, but he sure did cause a big mess! (Look at the Arabs vs the Jews TO THIS DAY!)

Oftentimes we as Christians feel that we too must sin to complete God's plan for our life. We run ahead of God, all the while screaming "You're taking too long!" or "I have a better way!"

God is not honored when you speed to get to church on time. Sure, you probably should have planned better in order to get to church on time, but breaking the law on the way there is not going to honor the Lord and is certainly not going to benefit your spiritual growth (which is God's plan for all of us.) You do not need to sin for His plan to succeed.

God is not impressed when you go into debt to purchase that brand new car you just had to get in order to get to and from your workplace (instead of using that money to tithe as He has called you to do). You sin when you frivolously spend that hard-earned money (one of the many resources God has given you to bring him glory) on something that will rust and die rather than investing in the souls of people. God will provide for you as He has promised. You do not need to sin for His plan to succeed.

God does not receive joy when you fail to discipline your children just because you think it will damage their precious self-esteem (i.e. ego) or because you are too lazy to follow through with what you have said. (Yes, that's right - NOT disciplining your children is a sin. See the book of Proverbs.) God's plan for your children is for their sanctification (spiritual growth) just as much as He desires that for you. By failing to discipline them, you are setting them up for a life of disaster. You are NOT doing them a favor. You do not need to sin for His plan to succeed.

Are you seeing a pattern here? Let's take a step back this week and examine our lives. Are there areas where we have run ahead of God and taken charge? I encourage you to look at your life from God's perspective this week and see who's ahead in the game.

Weekend Worship - Where Have All the Bibles Gone?

There is a new trend emerging among Christian churches across America. I don't know if this trend is occuring worldwide, but it has become painfully obvious here in the USA. Christians everywhere are forsaking the age old tradition of bringing their Bibles to church.

The age of technology has reached a new low by accommodating believers with what I call "The Power Point Worship Service". With sermon Scriptures now printed on huge screens in nearly every thriving church across America, Christians have been quick to lay aside their Bibles and head to church empty-handed. I want to argue that there are many dangers in this ever-popular, growing trend. They are:


1. The pastor/teacher cannot be held accountable.
While we all want to be able to trust our pastors/teachers, the sad truth is that there are many men and women who preach from the pulpit who are deceivers and false teachers. They could essentially put any words on the screen, not necessarily words from the Bible, and without your Bible in your lap you would never know the difference.

2. Studying is nearly impossible without the Word of God at hand.
I certainly don't have this down yet, but my goal is to always carry the Word of God with me wherever I go. Why? Second Timothy 3.16 says, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" and 2 Timothy 2.15 says, "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth." How can we study without our Bibles?

3. We set a poor example for non-believers.
Why would a non-believer want to follow a lifestyle that we ourselves don't even care about? See 2 Timothy 2.15 again. We want to do everything possible to show ourselves approved by God!

4. We set a poor example for new believers.
In Psalm 119:105 David says to the Lord, "Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." In the same chapter, in verse 162 he says, "I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure!" We need to show new believers what a great passion can be ignited in our spirits if we devote ourselves to reading and fervently studying the Scriptures daily!

What do you think about this trend? Do you think it's okay or wrong for the church today? Why or why not?

Weekend Worship - The Kindness of the Lord

God must get a good kick out of me and all the plans I like to make. Most of the time He gently taps me on the shoulder and says, "Excuse me, but...I really need to take over on this one." And so my plans never quite go as...well...as planned.

Several weeks ago (and I do mean several) I posted a Weekend Worship blog with topics that would be "coming soon". Well, let me assure you. They are still coming. I'm just not so sure about that soon part.

Today's events brought it's own idea for my Weekend Worship post and I have therefore (yet again) decided to post about something other than those "coming soon" topics.

This evening my 9-month old daughter managed to burn her fingers by dipping them into a bowl of hot cheese dip. While this was a pretty traumatic moment (obviously for her, but also for us), it was also a moment to allow the Lord to work through us. While we could have reacted with anger and disdain toward the server's obvious lack of experience with children, by the grace of God we acted with patience and forgiveness. The server was exceptionally apologetic and tried to be as helpful as possible. We assured her that we knew it was just an accident, that accidents happen, and that we had no hard feelings toward her. We can only hope that she saw a bit of the Lord's kindness through our actions toward her.

We never know who will cross our path on any given day and we always need to be on the alert to show kindness to those we come in contact with whenever possible.

In case you should want to see our poor baby's little blistered fingers, there is a picture of Reagan's hand on my photography blog.

Challenge, Day 7

This is a day late. I know.

Yesterday (Saturday) filled itself with event after event and I'm ashamed to say I don't think I even opened my Bible. :( On the upside (if there can be an upside to that), I did not turn on the television either. That makes 6 straight days of no TV! I don't ordinarily watch much TV anyway, but it's still interesting to note.

I am happy to report (despite today's laziness) that I made my way through the book of Matthew and about halfway through the book of Mark this week in about 3 hours of reading time. And I only watched a total of 2 hours of television (a movie, actually).

All in all, I think I did a fairly good job with the challenge. How about you? :)

Challenge, Days 5 and 6

I know, I know....I skipped yesterday's post. Shame on me.

The past few days I've been reading in Mark. Still no TV since Sunday, but I'm finding that I'd rather open the Word of God than push that remote button anyway!

I continue to be struck by the fact that each gospel is so very different from the others. While reading the first eight chapters of Mark, I've noticed that he chooses not to dwell on the Pharisees so much. He often just says things like "a large crowd" instead of directly speaking about the Jewish leaders. But it makes perfect sense! The book of Mark was not written specifically to the Jews. The book of Matthew was.

Matthew was a Jew writing to the Jews about the promised Messiah. So he used lots of illustrations to show that Jesus was indeed who He said He was. He gave more than an ample argument that the Pharisees were wrong in what they believed and He showed the Jews exactly why.

Mark, on the other hand, wrote to all people (Jews and Gentiles alike) and his focus was on Christ's life as a servant to others. He chooses to leave out all the "nitty gritties" and get straight to the point. Jesus came to serve and we are to follow in his footsteps.

What an amazing love letter our God has left for us!

Challenge, Day 4

Today I finished reading the book of Matthew. I only got in about 15 minutes of reading time, but I still haven't turned on the tv so I'm not getting any more behind. :)

I'm always struck when I read the crucifixion story. Why anyone would love me as much as Christ does is beyond me, but I am eternally grateful. The thing that stood out to me the most today though was this:

If you grow up in a Christian family like I did, you hear all the stories of Jesus all the time - at home, in Sunday School, from books, etc. You know they all flow together from the books Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. But what you don't know unless you study them individually is the beauty of each of the four books individually. Each is written by a different author and brings to the table a unique perspective on the life of Christ. But without all four, we would miss out on some incredible details of His life!

While I was reading, I kept thinking, "But wait, I though this happened next." Then I realized it probably does - it's just left out of this particular book. While many accounts are duplicated in more than one of the four books, some are not. What a wonderful gift of God that we have all four in His Word!

Another reason I love the fact that we have four gospels is that it is another proof that the Bible and the life of Christ are true and factual. Each book was written at a different time, at a different location, by a different man. Yet they all line up perfectly! It is also proof that the Holy Spirit was truly the writer of these books! Since the books were not written while Jesus was alive but rather were written years later, it would seem implausible that the disciples would be able to remember SO many specific details. Yet they recorded detail upon detail upon detail, and all in accordance with the other three books (which, remember, were written at a different time, at a different location, by a different man).

I am really enjoy this week of Bible reading! Not that I don't read on a normal week, but I've been much more consistent this week and I've really enjoyed reading straight through the book of Matthew. Tomorrow morning I will begin in Mark and we'll see where that takes me!

Thanks for following along on my journey! :)

Challenge, Day 3

I have not turned the television on since Sunday. While I'm not sure that watching less TV was the actual goal of this challenge, I'm sure it definitely can't hurt. Since I'm still catching up on Sunday's 2-hour movie time, I don't want to get any more behind by watching anything else! I have about 25 minutes to go and I'm just about to finish the book of Matthew. It's been a lovely journey.

I found myself in Bible study last night knowing where all the verses in Matthew were. It was a wonderful feeling to know exactly what Scriptures were there! Obviously, the more acquainted with the Word you are, the better you will know references and Scriptures.

In Matthew 26, Peter denied Christ three times, just as Christ had told him he would. It got me to thinking....how often do we as Christians deny the name of Christ? Not directly, of course, but in a subtle way. For example, the way we dress could deny the fact that we know Him. The way we speak could deny the commandments that He has given. There are so many ways that we can essentially deny our Lord, yet we look at Peter and say, "What a fool!"

I'm curious if anyone else is traveling this journey with me. Anyone?....Anyone?.....Bueller?....

Challenge, Day 2

Although I didn't watch any TV today, I spent a good portion of time (well, about an hour) catching up on last night's movie time. :)

I read Matthew 3-22 this afternoon and had forgotten how much more you get out of the gospels if you read them straight through! Something that struck me today was how childish the disciples were. They were constantly doing things like asking Jesus who would be the greatest, asking who would sit near him in heaven, trying to act like they knew what was the most important. Jesus always calmly responded with gentleness and corrected their foolish behavior.

And then I got to thinking...how childish am I sometimes? I think I know what's important in life, but so many times I'm just way off base. I want recognition for things that I do when all the recognition should really go to the Lord. It is truly by the grace of God that I am what I am today. So why should I boast?

Weekend Worship - Challenge, Day 1

When I first started this blog several months ago, I would occasionally issue a challenge as part of my Weekend Worship posts. Well, the time has come around again and I have a really hard one for you this week!

The truth is....it's not my challenge, really. The challenge actually came straight from the pulpit yesterday, but I think it's perfect!

Our sermon began with several quotes on the state of America's declining morals. Woven into the message was the truth that the television has played a major role in this country's downfall. He defined television as the most easily accessible, most addictive drug in America. The sermon ended with this challenge:

Part A:
This week read your Bible as much as you watch television. Minute for minute. Hour for hour.

Part B:
Each day, share with one person something you've learned from reading the Word that day.

When our pastor first said this, I thought "Well, that should be easy. We hardly even watch tv!" But after tonight's 2-hour movie with my hubby, I've had to rethink how much we actually do turn on the tube.

So I'm extending the challenge to all of you! For one week only (it's only a week - you can do it!), read the Bible just as much as you watch tv. You may be surprised how much tv you actually watch! And you'll likely be just as surprised how much you're learning in the Scriptures in that same amount of time!

DAY 1

I decided to start with Matthew and I'll see how far I get in the New Testament this week! What I've learned from my reading today is how very disobedient I am. When Mary was pregnant and shortly after she gave birth to Jesus, Joseph received visions from the Lord more than once. He never seemed to waver in his faith. Each time the Lord commanded Joseph to do something, as soon as he woke up, Joseph obeyed. As soon as he woke up. Wow. What a man of God! I know of several instances in the past and present wherein I have not immediately obeyed the conviction of the Holy Spirit. And I hesitate to say that immediate obedience is probably not often the case with me.

I hope you will join in on this challenge for the week! If you do, feel free to leave comments sharing about what you're learning in the Word each day! Or post about the challenge in your own blog and leave your link in the comments section!

I may or may not be blogging about other things this week. We'll see how much reading I have to do! :)

Weekend Worship - Quiet Time

I know in my head that a true disciple of the Lord will develop and keep a quiet time with Him each day. However, in the craziness of life, so often I fail to include this in my day. Obviously the root of it is plain old selfishness, but it drives me crazy that I can't seem to get it down! I know I use my kids as an excuse, but even they are not a good enough excuse for this one.

I'm open to and looking for suggestions.

What do you do to keep yourself in the Word each day?
How do you prepare your heart for that time?
Do you keep a journal/notebook to record prayer requests and things that you're learning?
What time of day works the best for you?
Etc....

Oops!

I posted last Friday (9 days ago) about my having achieved an "Excellent Blog" award. I mentioned that you could leave your blog address (or favorite blog) in the comments section and that I would give my 10 favorite blogs the "Excellent Blog" award by the following Friday. Well, Friday has now come and gone and I have not chosen any blogs yet. (This means you still have time to fit yours in!) But let me tell you why....

I am hereby declaring this month the busiest month of my life. I mean, sure - I have had other busy months. But I'm pretty sure this one tops them all. Does it sound like I'm making an excuse? Well, I am.

I am also making an excuse for Sunday's blog not being posted. Well....I'm not making a new excuse. I'm just stealing that one up there and using it again. Where is Sunday's blog? It's not here. Why? Because this month has been formally declared as the busiest month of my life. How does that affect my capabilities to blog a few paragraphs each day? It just does.

So, my deepest apologies to all of you who so kindly frequent my blog each day. I do plan to get up some scenarios for some great May CVS deals sometime this week along with all those other normal daily posts. :)

I also want to encourage you to email me or leave a comment if there is something new you'd like to see on this blog or if you want to submit something (like a recipe, funny story, etc.) for posting!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend! I'll be back tomorrow! :)

Weekend Worship - Modesty, Part 4

First of all...Happy Mother's Day to all you moms! I hope you are having a wonderful day! I was very blessed to have my parents visit this weekend so I got to spend part of Mother's Day with my mom.

This week will conclude my 4-week series on modesty. I hope you have gleaned some new information or have refreshed your mind about how to dress modestly and instruct the young ladies around you to dress modestly. As I mentioned last week, I want to post something this week that was written by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. She has several articles and books about modesty along with a great number of other topics. I recently attended a Bible study where we used her book "Seeking Him". It was the most fantastic study I've ever done! I also just started reading "Lies Women Believe", which is also excellent! I highly recommend her books to anyone who is interested in delving into a deeper relationship with the Lord.

Anyway, this particular article is called "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: The Decision to Live Your Life for God's Glory".

There's no question about it. The decision to live your life for God's glory will require some tough choices. It will probably take more time to shop, and your clothing may actually cost a little more. You may not look as cool or "in" as you would like, and sometimes you just might have to stand out in a crowd as someone who is different. But remember, you are different. You have a different citizenship and you were bought with a costly price!

As you evaluate your wardrobe, you'll need courage to ask specific, practical questions:

• Is there writing (or picture) on my clothing that emphasizes private parts of my body?
• If someone were to look at me, where would their eyes naturally go - to my face, eyes, hips, thighs, breasts, etc?
• Where do I want men looking when I come into view?
• Is the fabric that I'm wearing too sheer?
• Could someone see through it to private parts of my body?
• Am I wearing tight, form-fitting clothes?
• Do my pants fit correctly?
• Are my pants too tight? Do they cling to the hips, thighs, etc.?
• Am I wearing anything provocative?

As you examine individual items in your wardrobe, stand in front of a mirror. Bend forward and ask yourself, "Can I see private parts that a man (other than my husband, if you're married) shouldn't see?" If the answer is "yes," you are dressed immodestly. Look from all angles - front, back, and sides - while walking, sitting, moving, stretching, and bending. Remember, we often bend over to pick up packages or children, or to get into and out of a car. Ask yourself, "What will others notice and see? Where will others' attention be drawn - toward breasts, hips, thighs, etc.? Why do I want to wear this outfit? Why do I like this style?" Your heart attitude is key here. Ask the Lord to help you represent Him well. Ask for a teachable, open, obedient heart. If you're married, ask your husband to help you understand what your clothes and appearance communicate to men. Ask him if your clothing is modest. If you're not married, ask your father or old woman these same questions. Modesty Resolutions Prayerfully consider, "Am I truly modest - according to God's standard?" Then determine to be a woman after God's own heart. Do you desire for your appearance to reveal a modest, godly heart? If so, here are seven choices I'd like to challenge you to make:

"Your clothing should be tight enough to show that you're a woman, but loose enough to show that you're a lady!"

1. Resolve to live to please God and to bring Him glory.
2. Yield (dedicate) your body to God. Say, "Lord, this body belongs to You."
3. Resolve to be modest because that's what pleases God.
4. Resolve to be pure (inwardly and outwardly).
5. Resolve never to dress in a way that could tempt men to have lustful thoughts.
6. Be willing to stand against the culture when it's contrary to God's Word and ways.
7. Be humble and open to the input of others.

Remember that it's possible to have a modest outward appearance while having the heart of a Pharisee (critical, self-righteous, and judgmental toward those who do not see things the way you do). Modesty doesn't mean that you have the corner on truth. Give God room and time to work in the lives of other people - don't say "Because I see it that way, that's how it should be." Remember, you're not the Holy Spirit.

Ask God to help you communicate modesty to others in a winsome way. Speak truth with a tender heart, compassion, and love. Make the truth as attractive as possible.

The Blessings of Modesty
Modesty is something good, desirable, and precious. There are many blessings you can experience as a result of modesty. They include:

• Peace: You'll know that you are obedient to God.
• Power: You'll be free from enslavement to fashion, fads, and others' opinions.
• Protection: You'll be guarded from the wrong kind of attention from the wrong kind of men. (Dressing modestly doesn't guarantee that "the wrong kind of men" will never give you unwanted attention, but it sure helps!)
• Purity: You'll attract the right kind of attention from the right kind of guys.
• Privilege: You'll experience great freedom in marriage as your body is reserved only for your husband.
• Praise: You'll be valued for spiritual and heart qualities more than physical characteristics.

© Revive Our Hearts. Used with permission. www.ReviveOurHearts.com
Info@ReviveOurHearts.com

Last week, I promised a list of resources to be used for researching modesty, so here it is:

Christian Books:

Becoming a Woman of Discretion in a Sensual World
by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

The Look - Does God Really Care What I Wear?
by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

For Women Only: A Straightforward Guide to the Inner Lives of Men
by Shaunti Feldhahn

Home Invasion: Protecting Your Family in a Culture That's Gone Stark Raving Mad
by Rebecca Hagelin

Secular Books:

A Return to Modesty: Discovering the Lost Virtue
by Wendy Shalit

Girls Gone Mild: Young Women Reclaim Self-Respect and Find It's Not Bad to Be Good
by Wendy Shalit

Christian Websites:

Revive Our Hearts

4 Women Only

Pure Fashion

The Rebelution Blog

Secular Websites:

Girls Gone Mild

Modesty Zone

Resource List compiled by Barbara Hult

Stay tuned for upcoming Weekend Worship topics like "You Don't Have to Sin for God's Plan to Succeed", "The Liberal Christian", and "Where Have All the Bibles Gone?"!

Weekend Worship - Modesty, Part 3

Sorry I am late posting this. My intention was to watch a movie with my hubby last night and then get to work blogging, but things didn't turn out as I had planned when I fell asleep on the couch and didn't wake up until after 1am. Anyway, this week I want to continue my series on modesty. I think I said last week that I was only going to do one more post (making a total of 3), but I do believe there will be yet another one after this week. So please bear with me. There is such a wealth of information on this topic and I don't want to miss anything crucial.

This week, I want to share something written by Trent Griffith. I don't know that I have much to say in addition to this message. When I read it, I though it seemed powerful enough on its own:

If I remember right, the year was 1985. As a pimple-faced high-school senior, I attended a Christian youth convention along with 7,000 other bundles of exploding hormones (otherwise known as teenagers). The keynote speaker was a young and impressive black preacher who held us on the edge of our seats with his high energy, constant motion, and vivid word pictures. His assignment that day was to call us to a life of moral purity. His passion for the subject was evidenced by the fact that with each point, his voice would raise an octave. At the climax of his message, he turned his attention toward the girls among us. Unhindered by what seemed like gravel on his vocal chords and sweat beads on his forehead, his voice crescendoed with a plea I will never forget: "IF YOU DON'T WANT ME TO COME TO YOUR PARTY, THEN DON'T SEND ME AN INVITATION!"

Wow. Chew on that.

Next week, I will share an article written by Nancy Leigh DeMoss (one of my FAVORITE Christian authors) which will include, among other things, a checklist of specific, practical questions for evaluating your wardrobe. I will also be posting a list of resources about modesty.

Other parts of this series:

Part 1
Part 2

Weekend Worship - Modesty, Part 2

I had the pleasure of attending my brother-in-law's wedding this weekend. The weather was perfect! The food was great! But I felt terrible for my husband who surely had to avert his eyes at least a hundred times from the scantily clad women who attended. Perhaps it's just that I haven't been to a wedding lately or perhaps it's that I've grown more sensitive to this issue in the past several months. But ladies, if your boobs look like they could fall out of your top at any moment, you're dressing COMPLETELY inappropriately! I think some of these women would have been revealing less if they had been wearing a bathing suit! It was ridiculous!

I don't know if women don't realize what they are doing or if they realize it and actually want that sort of attention. But either way, it certainly doesn't measure up to God's standards.

When writing the book For Women Only, Shaunti Feldhahn interviewed 1,000 men and found remarkably similar results among all of them as far as how men relate to women. Men want to feel respected. They are haunted by romantic failures. It's difficult for them to "change gears". They enjoy it when their wife takes care of herself. But the most stunning discovery (in my opinion) that she made during these interviews was this:

Men have (what Shaunti calls) a "visual rolodex" in their brain. Any image of a beautiful/sexy woman is automatically logged into their brain the instant they see it (be it live, in a picture, or in a video). These images can be brought up at will or may just randomly pop into their minds. While this may appall you at first (if you're a woman), this is not a malfunction of a man. This is the way men were wired by their Creator. The key is protecting their eyes from seeing all the filth of the world and, if an inappropriate image should pop up, immediately willing it away by the power of the Holy Spirit.

In Every Man's Battle, the authors include several personal stories along with real letters from Christian men on the topic of sexual purity. I want to give you a glimpse of what these letters include so you can be aware of the kind of battle that men must fight with their eyes when women are not dressed appropriately. Men receive sexual gratification through their eyes. That is why it is SO important for us to be careful about what we wear! Remember, these are Christian men struggling with normal desires. As a warning, these personal accounts are somewhat graffic:

I never intentionally set out to be girl-watching that day, but I spotted her about two hundred yards ahead and to the left. She was jogging toward me along the coastal sidewalk. From my sheepskin-covered leather seat, I found the view outstanding, even by California's high standards. My eyes locked on to this goddesslike blonde, rivulets of sweat cascading down her tanned body as she ran at a purposeful pace. Her jogging outfit, if it could be called that in those days before sports bras and spandex, was actually a skimpy bikini. As she approached on my left, two tiny triangles of tie-dyed fabric struggled to contain her ample bosom. I can't tell you what her face looked like; nothing above the neckline registered with me that morning. My eyes feasted on this banquet of glistening flesh as she passed on my left, and they continued to follow her lithe figure as she continued jogging southbound. Simply by lustful instinct, as if mesmerized by her gait, I turned my head further and further, craning my neck to capture every possible moment for my mental video camera.

There was a (sexual) monster lurking about, and it surfaced each Sunday morning when I settled in my comfy La-Z-Boy and opened the Sunday morning newspaper. I would quickly find the department-store inserts and begin paging through the colored newsprint filled with models posing in bras and panties. Always smiling. Always available. I loved lingering over each ad insert. It's wrong, I admitted, but it's such a small thing. It was a far cry from Playboy, I told myself. I peered through the panties, fantasizing. Occasionally, a model reminded me of a girl I once knew, and my mind rekindled the memories of our times together. I rather enjoyed my Sunday mornings with the newspaper.

Alex remembers the time he was watching TV with his sister-in-law. The rest of the family was at the mall. "She was lying flat on her stomach on the floor in front of me, wearing tight shorts, and she'd fallen asleep watching TV. I was on the chair, and I happened to look down and see her upper thigh and a trace of her underwear. I tried to ignore it, but my heart started racing a little, and my eyes kept looking at the back of her upper thigh. It got so exciting that I began to stare and really lust. I had to release it somehow. I masturbated while she slept, right out in the open."

Do you see what we are doing to the men in our lives?! Women should be dressing in a way that is not causing a man to stumble. It's okay to dress attractively, but it's not okay to dress seductively. Since we know that men have a natural weakness in this area, we need to do everything possible to keep them from stumbling.

Now, I want to clarify that I am in NO way condoning a man's lustful behavior. Men need to train themselves to look away and "bounce their eyes" when an attractive woman is nearby. They need to keep themselves out of dangerous situations that they know may cause them to stumble. But at the same time, it is a woman's responsibility to clothe herself fully so as not to aid a man in this sin.

I think I will include one more week on this series next week. We'll see what I can scrounge up for that. :)

By the way, did any of you go through your closet this week and take a good look at your clothes??

Other parts of this series:

Part 1
Part 3

Weekend Worship - Modesty, Part 1

I had a GREAT time at the women's retreat for those of you who are wondering. It was a wonderful time to get away, relax, laugh, share, and develop ideas for a better relationship with my spouse, my kids, and my Jesus.

One of the things we discussed this weekend was the issue of modesty. Depending on where you live in the country, you may not see this as a very big issue or you may wish there was a dress code for women to go out in public. I have nothing against the coastal states, but in general, they tend to be less conservative in their attire. The Midwest and surrounding states tend to be a bit more conservative. However, as always, there are exceptions to every rule.

At any rate, modesty is an issue that is unfortunately lacking in our society, specifically in our church's curriculum. Young women are growing up completely uninformed. They do not understand the importance of modesty nor do they understand what modesty is.

What is modesty?

Dressing modestly is not about having a set of rules. It's not about setting a dress code. It's about the heart. I would define modesty as the desire to please the Lord in what one wears so as not to cause a man to stumble.

One of the specific things about which we talked at the retreat was the "good, better, best" idea. A woman can go shopping and find a shirt (or skirt/shorts/etc.) that she thinks is fairly modest. It might be a good choice. And there's an excellent chance (in today's society) that it's a better choice than lots of other shirts on the same rack. But is it the best choice? I am a Christian and therefore desire to please the Lord in all that I do - including how I dress. I don't want to be somewhat godly or even mostly godly; I want to be as godly as possible! Since what I wear affects my brothers (and sisters) in Christ, my wardrobe is therefore a part of my spiritual life.

Consider going through your closet this week and choosing the best items of clothing instead of just the good or even better ones.

I want to continue this topic next week because I believe this is something that needs to be addressed in today's culture, but I don't have time to elaborate tonight. (The retreat was nice, but it did exhaust me!) Next week, we will talk about why modesty is important, how men think, and what Christian men have to say about the way Christian women dress.

Other parts of this series:

Part 2
Part 3

Weekend Worship - How Can I Know I'm A Christian?

My husband and I went to a conference this evening at a local church. One of the speakers spoke about how he discovered a few years ago that he was only going through the motions of Christianity and had never actually been saved. He mentioned that someone had pointed him to the book of 1 John as a place to find out the "criteria" of a true believer. I want to share these 10 things with you from 1 John so that you too - if you are a believer - can have assurance in your salvation and know that you are a Christian.

A true convert....

....Admits he is a sinner.
....Lives a life of obedience more than a life of disobedience. That is, he finds himself doing more of God's commands than not doing.
....Doesn't harbor hatred or bitterness but instead offers love and comfort.
....Doesn't love the world or the things of the world - that is, the practices of the world.
....Proclaims Jesus Christ as the Son of God.
....Has a hope and a long for the return of Jesus Christ.
....Desires to serve and help other Christians.
....Loves being with other believers.
....Rejects false teachings.
....Remains in the truth and perseveres in the truth.

If you are unsure of your salvation or are interested in learning how to have a personal relationship with your Creator, please email me. I would be more than happy to share with you the peace and joy that comes from knowing Jesus Christ! :)