Friday, September 28, 2012

Selfish Ambition and Lust, The Story of David and Bathsheba

     Today, I will be talking about jealousy, and self ambition. The one subject we don't want to hear about. :) James 3:16, "For where jealousy and selfish ambition exists, there will be disorder and every vile practice." I love how in this verse, it doesn't say "there will be disorder in a couple different vile practices." But "every vile practice." One of the stories that fits this most is the story of David and Bathsheba. 2 Samuel 11:2, "It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful." That right there, is the lust that started it all, which then turned to selfish ambition, which then lead to the first sin. In verse 4 of the same chapter, "So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her..." And, that was not only a sin on David's side, but Bathsheba also, because she had a husband, and it doesn't even hint that she refused him. But, as David started all of this by lusting after her, it was his fault too.

     Then, he realized that he had done wrong, so, what does he do? Does he repent? Nope. Not at all. He tries covering it up by trying to get Uriah to sleep with Bathsheba, to make it look like Uriah got her pregnant. But, in verse 11 it says, "Uriah said to David, 'The ark and Israel and Judah dwell in booths, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field. Shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.'" So when that doesn't work, does he come clean then after he tried deception, which is sin #2? Nope. Verses 14-15, "In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. In the letter he wrote, 'Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and die.'" So, he not only slept with Uriah's wife, but he then tried to cover it up, but that didn't work so he sent Uriah back to the battle field, carrying his own death sentence. All because of his own lusts, and selfish ambition. James 1:15, "Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death." This is very true.

     This story is a perfect example of why we shouldn't lust over things, or others. It never ends up well.  Hebrews 13:5, "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" If you're content, you won't want anything else, or lust over it.

     Girls, this story is also about how David lusted after a woman. When we dress immodestly, boys are going to lust over us. Please keep this in mind next time you get dressed.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

How Others View You

     The other day, I talked about reflection. About who you reflect, God, or the world around you. Today, I'll be talking about how others view you. It really goes hand-in-hand with the one I did on Tuesday, so if you haven't read it, I encourage you to do so :) (here's the link:http://marvelouslymodest.blogspot.com/2012/09/reflection.html).

     One of the things that I hear about a lot, is when people worry about how others view them, and what they think of them. And same the advice I hear all the time is, "It doesn't matter what they think of you." That is true, to some extent. We still have to let our light shine. And, if we dress of the world, then we're showing others that we are of this world. There is a difference between someone thinking that you're of this world because they just don't like you, and thinking you're of this world because you act like it, or dress like it. I said this a little while back, that, if you went to the beach, and saw someone wearing a bikini, would your first thought of them be, "Oh, they must be a Christian." Obviously not. But, if you go to a beach and see someone in board shorts that go to their knees and a rash guard shirt that covers them, then are you going to have a little more respect for them, and their purity? If you dress like the world, people are going to see that you are of the world, because you're presenting yourself that way. Matthew 5:16, "In the same way, let your light so shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." This verse is telling us that, if we act like we're God's children, then people will see that.

     Before you do anything such as, watch a movie, buy some clothes, read a book, or even post a status on Facebook, think of someone you admire for being Godly, and think, "Would they be okay with this?" "Would they watch this movie?" or, "Would they wear this shirt?" or "Would they read this book?" etc. Because, if you do that, then you are motivating yourself to do what's right in the sight of God. I'm not saying that we have to be perfect, but we at least have to try to be. Please keep this in mind next time you get dressed. :)

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Knowing The Truth

     In today's article, I am going to be talking about knowing the truth. There is one phrase that I really like, "A Bible that's falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn't." That is a very true statement. The more you know the truth, the more you know God. A lot of times, we tend to think that, if we go to church on Sunday mornings, we know enough. But, if you go to church on Sunday mornings, and don't study at home, or on your own, then by the time you are 20, you will have about a second grade education in Bible. If you want to know more about the Bible, you have to do a lot of studying.

     I was at a week long lectureship (Polishing the Pulpit) about a month ago, and I was looking for a new Bible, because mine was starting to fall apart, and I really wanted one that had larger margins so I could write notes down, and real leather so the cover wouldn't start falling off again. So I was looking through some, and this girl was showing her dad this Bible she had found. She was about 16, and I overheard a little bit of their conversation. The girl was asking her dad if she could get it. It was one of the Bibles I had been looking at before. It was a blue study Bible, ESV, (my favorite translation) small, but not too small, and her dad said, "Will you read it if I get it for you?" Her answer was, "Yes, I promise." "Well, anything to get you reading I guess." was his reply. The first thing I thought when I heard that was, "How long will she read it, before she stops?" Now, I don't know, maybe she did keep reading it. But honestly, it doesn't take a new, shiny Bible to start reading. I'm not saying that you have to spend every single moment of your time studying, or that it's wrong to get a new Bible, but I am saying that, studying your Bible will be one of the most important, most wonderful time of your day, if it's pretty or not. One of my favorite things to do is to learn. I hate not knowing something. I may not necessarily like to do the work that helps me to learn, but when I learn something about the Bible, I never regret it. The time you spend with your Bible will be some of the best times of your life.

     2 Timothy 3:16-17, "(16)All scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (17) that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." One of the reasons we need to learn, is so that we can teach. How are we to make disciples of men (Matthew 28:19) if we don't even know what we're teaching?

     A second reason we should learn, is because, the happiest people I know, are the ones who study the Bible. Because they know that, no matter what happens, no matter how hard times get, if they stay faithful, it'll always be worth it in the end. I mean, if you just read the book of Job, that alone is a huge encouragement. And, the more you read, the more sure you are that there is a God, and one day, if you follow His rules strictly, you'll get to meet Him in heaven.

     A third reason is, so we know when we're wrong. Psalm 119:11, "I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." I was helping with the door-knocking a couple weeks ago, inviting people to a parenting seminar, and to our Friends and Family Day that coming Sunday, and the last house we went to was a kind lady, who said, "We won't change. We have been with this denomination for over 40 years, and we are not going to change." Then she went on to say that, "There is only 1 God, and there are only 10 commandments, and anyone can worship Him any way they want." Now, let me get this straight, there is 1 God, and he gives us strict rules to follow (and there are plenty more than 10 because after Jesus' crucifixion we became under the new law) but you don't have to follow those laws, as long as your intentions are to worship Him, and to please Him? What if, I were to start a church called "Jayla's Church of Worshiping God" and one of the things we did to worship, was to bring in a knife, and in 30 seconds stab as many people as possible, and the more people you stabbed, the more saved you were. Don't you find that kinda wrong? Oh, but I'm doing it to praise God, and to remember when Jesus was crucified. It doesn't matter the intentions, because God doesn't call us to have good intentions, but to follow His word. The only way to please God, is to follow His commandments. John 14:15, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments."

     Thank you for reading, and please remember to share your favorite article and to "Like" Marvelously Modest on Facebook. :)

   

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Reflection

     I know I said I'd do a series on our eternal clothing, but I have had a change of plans. Today, I am going to be talking about reflection. Sunday night, in my dad's sermon, he said, "If people judged the whole church by your actions, what would they think about the church?" We have to be careful about our actions. Because, no matter how hard you try not to be an example, you are. If you are a person, then people will look at you. Either as a good example, or a bad. If you reflect the church, how will people see it? I remember once, I was going home, and I heard my parents talking in the front seat. My dad was telling my mom that, while some of the members were passing out materials, someone made the comment that they "knew we were Christians because we dressed modestly." That right there proves that people do notice these things about us.

     Matthew 5:14, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden." We are the light of the world. And if people look at us as an example, then we have to watch our actions. We should be reflecting God. When people see us in public, there should be no doubt in their mind that we are Christians. Matthew 28:19, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," How can we make disciples if we don't let our light shine? In Matthew 5:14 it says that we are a city on a hill. We should always keep that in mind. When we dress, what are we reflecting? Are we reflecting God, or are we reflecting the world? If I were to go around in a pair of short-shorts and bikini top all the time, do you really think that anyone would listen to me about modesty? And I encourage, especially you older girls to dress modestly. Because those little girls, no matter what you say or do, will look up to you. And if you dress modestly, they'll notice, and will want to do the same. I started realizing this a couple weeks ago. I was babysitting this little girl, and she said, "One day, when I'm all gown up, I'll be like you." At that point, I realized that, if little kids look up to me, then I should try to give them something good to look up to.  And then I started realizing just how cute little kids are. :) But really, we have to watch ourselves, because other people are watching ut too. Please keep this in mind next time you get dressed. :)

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Our Eternal Clothing: Our Crown

     I was trying to think of something to write on, as I had written on pretty much everything you can imagine on modesty, but then I realized one topic that I haven't covered yet, our eternal clothing! I mean, this is a blog on clothing. Why not talk about our eternal clothing!

      First of all, I want to tell you why we shouldn't exactly care about the latest fashions and what not. First of all, the "in" thing may not be the right thing. Second, is God going to look at your appearance? Of course not! In 1 Samuel 16:7 it says, "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look at his outward appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him.' For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." So, if God doesn't care, then who is more important that cares? Not one person. Galatians 1:10, "For am I now seeking the approval  of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." Also, in John 10:29, "My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,..." So, if God doesn't care about what we look like, or if we dress in the most fashionable clothes, then who cares? No one is of that great of importance. Now, I'm not saying that He doesn't look at how we dress, because He does look at modesty. But as long as it's modest, the rest doesn't matter. 

     Now that I've said that, I'd like to get to our eternal clothing. First, I would like to talk about our Crown. When I was little, as most little girls did, I used to want to be a princess. I would play dress-up, and have tea parties, where only the fanciest bears and bunnies  attended, and had a plastic tiara with pink plastic sparkles on it, but I always knew that it was all just play, and that I would never really be a princess. Then, on August third of this year, I got my crown of life. Not a fake tiara, but a crown of life. :)   Revelation 2:10, "Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life." That should be our goal in life, to get that crown. Not to please man, or wear what's in style. Because, do you really think that on judgement day, God will look at you and say, "You didn't dress modestly, but I'll let it slide, because you did dress fashionably." In fact, in about 10 years, it probably won't even be the style anymore. In the end, which will you be more proud of, being modest all of your life and  knowing that, even though it was a difficult task, you still did God's will? Or that you gave in and dressed with style, without modesty? Now, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with being fashionable, but if the fashion is to see how short you can wear shorts without wearing nothing, then I strongly suggest that you run from it. Thank you for reading, and please be sure to read the rest of the series too. :)

Friday, September 21, 2012

Everything Happens For A Reason/Opening Doors

     Today, I am going to be going completely off the topic of modesty. I know this is a modesty blog, but honestly, there is a lot I would like to write about not involving modesty. I promise this will only be occasional, as I'm sure you want to read about modesty. But for today, I want to tell you about how everything happens for a reason. :)

     Yesterday, I was doing a door-knocking campaign, where we knock on doors, inviting people to an event our congregation is having, and to worship services with us. One of the answers we got was, "I really appreciate what you are doing, but we aren't looking for a change, unless the Lord points us in that direction." This made me think, isn't this pointing you in the right direction? Are you sure this isn't just a nudge in the right direction? I know and understand that signs and miracles no longer occur, but I do know that everything happens for a reason.

     Ever since I was little, I have moved a lot. 2 weeks after I turned 13 I had lived in 10 different places. I was born in Texas, where my dad was studying to become a preacher. 9 months later, we moved to Nebraska, then back to Texas where my dad decided he wanted to be a missionary. So we moved to Kansas for a bit, and then moved to Russia for about 3 or 4 months. By this time I was 5 years old. My parents wanted to continue doing the Lord's work there, but no matter how hard they tried, they could only get my dad over there, and my dad refused to go for very long without his family going too. So that door closed, and we started looking somewhere else to live. Between all of this I had moved another 2 times, making me 6 and had lived in 8 different places. After a while, we realized that we wanted a larger congregation to work with, so we moved again, and not being happy there, we moved again. Out of all the places I have ever lived, out of all the places my dad has preached at, not one place have we actually made this much improvement and growth in. Even though we didn't stay in Russia like my parents wanted, we made it somewhere we were needed.

     One of the things I find funny is how all of this went down. The previous preacher retired a year before we moved. They had tried out several preachers, but didn't find any they liked. So they went through the pile again, and this time, my dad was one of the options. We were the last one they interviewed, so they were starting to get a bit impatient. They didn't call us back for a little while, so my dad started applying other places. Then, one random night, I was in my room reading a book, when I heard my dad pick up the phone, and hearing the excitement in his voice, I put my book down and rushed to the other end of the house. We finally got a call back. They didn't want us trying out, and we had exactly 30 days to move in. My dad thought about it for a little bit, then gladly accepted. The next day, 3 of the other choices called, offering him to try out there. The thing is, the old preacher quit after 16 years, and we just so happened to start looking somewhere else about 6 months later, and just so happened to be a perfect fit, and we just so happened didn't get any offers until after they hired my dad.

     What also makes me smile, is the fact that, we had tried out one place before that. When we first went, we were excited, but after we had left, we were very disappointed. On the way home, we were starting to feel a bit down, so my brother and I started joking around and saying, "Wouldn't it be funny if the other place called us right now and asked us for an interview?" And sure enough, about 5 minutes later my dad got a call, asking for us to try out. Later, I found out that this congregation, was one of the ones that we asked to help support us in our mission trip, and they declined. Except for one donation made from one of the members, who just so happened to be the head of the search committee.

     The more I go over that story, the more I just giggle inside. Some people think that things just happen, and there may not be a reason for it. I know that God has a plan for all of us, and we just have to look at the scripture, and keep an open mind for these things. Even though it took us 13 years to find the right congregation, we found one. And my dad has never made as big of an impact as he has here. A lot of people think that God has no plan for them, but that's most likely because either they fail to see it, or it hasn't happened yet. And sometimes, God does nudge us in the right direction. It's not a miracle, or a sign. It's God's will.

     I hope this was an encouragement to you. Everyone has a purpose and a place. It may take a while to find it, but no matter how hard times get, it'll always turn out, even if you cant see it at first. And no matter how hard times get, to always stay faithful. :) And sometimes, we have to look at the situation we're in, and use it, and always keep an open mind. Because sometimes, we think we're doing the Lord's will, when we belong doing something else. :) A door easily opened is easily closed, and sometimes, we're not given a door, but a window. And I want to encourage you to always be looking for an open door, or window, even if it's off in the distance, and I also encourage you to start looking for different things to do, so God can use you.

Please be sure and share your favorite article, and "like" Marvelously Modest on Facebook. :)

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

1 Corinthians 6:19

     1 Corinthians 6:19 has to be another of my favorite verses. "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own," A lot of girls tend to think "It's my body, I can do whatever I want with it, and dress however I want." But that is not the case. This verse is very clear in stating "You are not your own". And if you are not your own, then it is not your body, and you can't do anything you want with it. If your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, then you should treat it with respect. Like yesterday, I said that about 1 Timothy 2:19, "Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control,..." This is telling us how we should treat the temple. I think that it's very important. Another thing girls tend to think is, "Dressing modestly is for little girls. And only the mature dress immodestly." Is not following God all that mature? I like how it says in 1 Timothy 2:9, "Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control,..." Not, "Likewise also, I want little girls to adorn themselves in respectable apparel,..." But women. Now, little girls should dress modestly too, I'm not saying that they shouldn't, I'm just saying that it's not immature to dress immodestly. So next time you think that it's more mature to dress immodestly, think again, because it's not.

     Another thing about this verse is that, it says that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Shouldn't we show the world Who we represent? Matthew 5:16, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." How can we let our light shine, if we don't even dress modestly? If we can't follow the rules we're teaching, how are we going to get people to listen to us? Matthew 28:19, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." We have to follow the instructions before we give them. Matthew 7:3, "Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye,  but do not notice the log in your own eye?" This isn't saying that we have to be perfect to teach, I mean, no one is perfect If we were, then Jesus wouldn't have died for us. But at least make sure you're doing the best you can. Please keep this in mind next time you get dressed. :)

     Thank you for reading, and please make sure and share your favorite article, and "like" Marvelously Modest on Facebook. :)

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

1 Timothy 2:9

     1 Timothy 2:9 has to be one of my favorite verses on modesty. It pretty much completely describes how we are to dress. I love how the ESV translates it, "Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls, or costly attire," You see, in ancient times during the Roman Empire, everyone had so many slaves working for them, that the women had nothing to do. So she'd just ask one of her servants braid her hair, and sometimes they would add jewels in with the braid, or strings of gold, to get attention from men. I mean, what would get more attention than, "I'm rich and sparkly!" This verse is basically saying that we should not dress to get attention. It's not saying that there's anything wrong with braiding our hair, but just that we have to be careful about attracting attention to ourselves. :)

     What it's also saying is that, we should dress respectably. In yesterday's post I covered that a lot. Now, I would like you to answer this honestly, is anyone going to respect you if you go out every day half dressed? In Monica's article, "What Story Do My Clothes Tell About Me" (it's right here if you want to read it: http://marvelouslymodest.blogspot.com/2012/07/what-story-do-my-clothes-tell-about-me.html) she mentioned that people can learn a lot about you by the way that you dress. That is very true. If you don't have one modest outfit in your closet, then that tells me exactly what kind of a person you are. And most of the time, you are not going to get as much respect, especially from men. If God says to dress modestly, and you don't, then how is that respectable?

     Also, it talks about self-control in how you dress. This is one that I think every girl has a problem with. Because, sometimes, we see a really cute top that we really really like, but it's too tight, and sometimes, it's almost like a death sentence, for me at least, to not buy that top. But that's when I have to have self-control, and tell myself that even if I buy it, I still can't wear it. We have to have self-control. And it seems hard at the time, but you'll never regret it. :) Please keep this in mind next time you get dressed. :)

     Thank you for reading, and please remember to "like" Marvelously Modest on Facebook, and share your favorite article! :)

Monday, September 17, 2012

Self Respect and Gaining Respect From Others

     When you dress modestly, what are you showing the world? You are showing them that you respect yourself, and your purity. The only way you can get respect, is if you respect yourself first, and show others that you should be respected. And people aren't going to treat you as if you're apart from the world, if you dress like the world. If you dress as the world wants you to dress, then people will treat you like you follow the world's standards. You are also showing everyone that you don't respect your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19 "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,". If your body is the temple of God, you should protect it, and cover it. And, if your body is the temple of God, don't you think that you should follow the commandments that come with it? "Likewise also, that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire," 1 Timothy 2:9 That is saying that we should not only cover our bodies respectably, but it's also saying that we shouldn't wear clothes, or accessories, that bring attention to ourselves. So please, next time you get dressed, remember that your body is a temple of God, and that you should treat it accordingly. :)

Thank you for reading, and please remember to share your favorite article, and "like" Marvelously Modest on Facebook! :)

Friday, September 14, 2012

Prince Charming

     Yesterday, I was trying to think of something to write for today. I felt like I had written about everything I possibly could on modesty, but I feel that there are other topics as well that need mentioning. So I asked someone (who wished to remain anonymous) what I should write about. And they said that I should write about "Prince Charming". And I agree, it is a very important subject. So last night as I was doing my daily pacing, I was wondering, how on Earth can I do an article on that? Being 14, I don't really know much about it. But, after thinking for a little while. I realized that I kinda do. Not from y experiences, but from other's. :)

     What should we look for in our prince charming? A lot of girls have different tastes, and there's nothing wrong with that. But there are certain traits that they should have. First of all, are they strong, faithful Christians? If not, then try to convert them, and if they won't be converted when you're dating, or in your quartship, (whichever you prefer) then he's not gonna do it later. No matter what he tells you, he's not. Let me tell you a little secret girls, most boys are gonna lie. And if they do, that is another red flag that we must avoid. Another thing we should look for, is that he doesn't want to rush things. Once, I received a note from someone. I barely knew this person, so I was puzzled at receiving it. The note was given to my brother to be given to me It asking me if I would like to go out with him. I was flattered, but at the same time, knew I shouldn't rush into things like that. Another thing was, at the time, I was 12. That's another thing I pay attention to, is age. If you are 12 years old, you shouldn't already be in love. I'm sorry, but I even think that about my current age. I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with being 14 and having a boyfriend, but you still have to contain your emotions sometimes, and really, it's a dangerous age to be i a relationship at.

     Another thing you have to watch out for, is how they want you to dress. If they like it when you dress immodestly, then you're just a shiny new toy. And what happens to a shiny new toy after about a month or two? They're replaced. Girls, don't put yourself in that kind of relationship. Another red flag, is if he's too controlling. Now, he can ask you some things of you, but if he pulls the whole, "If you love me you'll..." thing on you, end it right then and there. It's important that our prince charmings treat us right. One of the things you should mainly look for, is does he respect your parents as well? Because, if he doesn't respect his and your parents, then chances are, he won't respect you either.

     Thank you for reading, and please be sure to share your favorite article, and "like" Marvelously Modest on Facebook. :)

Thursday, September 13, 2012

"To God Be the Glory": In Our Actions

     Today's article will be the last in the short series, "To God Be the Glory". It is on how we can glorify God in our actions (I like to point out the obvious). I know you're thinking that this has nothing to do with modesty, but like I said yesterday, there are several ways we can glorify God, and this was going to be mentioned in the original article anyway. :)

     So, today's article will be on our actions. Our actions speak louder than our words. One of the things that drives me up the walls, is someone who says that we should dress modestly to glorify God, and while saying it, is showing so much thigh, and so much cleavage, that any guy with any kind of morals will avoid seeing her at all costs. Our actions speak louder than our words. We can't just say that we're modest, and expect to be treated as such. Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." We can't just glorify God in the way we talk. We have to show Him that we mean it.

     Also, we have to make sure that our actions, not our intentions, are pure. It's not always the thought that counts. Sometimes, our good intentions are bad ideas. God didn't call us to have good intentions, He told us to follow His Word. Sometimes, I think we tend to forget that.

     So, what are some ways we can give glory to God in our actions? First, you have to find your talent. Maybe it's baking, or card making, your reading ability, anything. Find something that you're good at, and use it. Use it for God's purposes. If you don't know your talent, go look for one! Ask God to help you. If you're into card making, you can use that to send cards to the sick, ones in need of encouragement, etc. You have no idea how much it effects someone when they realize that you care about them. Maybe you're a friendly, outdoing person. You can go and visit some people in the hospital. Or, just any time you see someone struggling with something, give them a word of encouragement. God gave us our talents so that we can use them. This reminds me of the parable of the talents. I'm not going to put it up because I don't have much space left, but if you want to look it up it's in Matthew 25:14-30. God calls us to use out talents for Him, and I encourage you to use yours to the best of your ability. :)

     Thank you for reading, and please be sure and share your favorite article, and "like" Marvelously Modest on Facebook. :)

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

"To God Be the Glory": In Our Speech

     Today's article is the second in the "To God Be the Glory" series. It will be about the subject that all girls know well, gossip. I'm sure you're asking, "what does gossip have to do with modesty?" Well, I was originally going to do an article on giving God the glory in the way that we dress, but there are many other subjects that link to it, such as gossiping, because gossip isn't modest. :)

     Gossip, as my mom puts it, is fun. F-U-N fun. I'm sure you all agree. However, God didn't put us on this earth to have fun now did He? He called us to make disciples, Matthew 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in he name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."  He called us to make disciples. Now, you tell me something, how is it that we can get people to listen to us, if we only talk bad about others? I mean, I wouldn't want to listen to someone if all they did was gossip. I mean it's fun yes, but it's not right. The sweetest girls I know, are the ones who only talk good about others. I was talking to some of my very close friends, and we accidentally slipped into gossip. And then my very dear friend who I will always admire for this, said, "Now we're gossiping." and, even though I'm sure she was having fun, she changed the subject. That girls, is the attitude we need to have. :)

     One of the things we need to remember before we speak is, "Is it true, is it kind, is it necessary?" What we say about others may be true, but is it kind, and is it necessary? In fact, a lot of the gossip I've heard isn't even true! They just make stuff up to make others look bad. Girls, I hope that's not you. And sometimes, it's hard to not gossip when you're around it, but God always gives us a way out.
1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, that you will be able to endure it." I just absolutely love that verse. All you have to do, is ask for God's help to get out of those situations. He will always help you to not sin. Matthew 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be open to you."

     Thank you for reading, and please make sure and share your favorite article, and "like" Marvelously Modest on Facebook. :)

     

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

"To God Be the Glory": The Way We Dress

     Today, I am going to start a short series called, "To God Be the Glory". I was originally going to make one article out of it, but couldn't fit all that I wanted to say in one article. So I decided to split it up into 3. :)

     So, how can we give God the glory in the way we dress? Well, first of all, in Matthew 5:16, it says "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." One of the ways we can let our lights shine is, well, following God's word! In 1 Timothy 2:9 (ESV) it says, "likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control,..." I think that's commandment enough. :) The congregation I worship at has a door hanging campaign. Where, over 8 weeks we pass out different articles written by members of the Church. One day, we got a comment of someone saying that they knew we were Christians because we all dressed modestly when we passed out the articles. I think that speaks for itself. One of the ways we can glorify God is dressing modestly, and letting our light shine. :)

     Another thing is, if you see someone at the beach wearing a bikini, are you going to just assume that they're a highly moral person? No. You're going think that they're of this world, because that's how they dress. Of this world. Girls, we are not of this world. Romans 12:2 "Do not be conformed to this world,..." So, just because dressing immodestly may be the fad, the fad is what the world set up, and I would like to encourage you girls to, no matter what's in style, to dress modestly and let your light shine. :)

Thank you for reading, and please remember to share your favorite article, and "like" us on Facebook! :)

Monday, September 10, 2012

Photo Of The Day: DOUBLE BATMAN!

This summer at Bible camp, my friend Sarah (my brother too but he doesn't like taking pictures) and I accidentally wore our identical Batman shirts on the same day. Sarah's was a little long for her, so she tied it to the side, and wore a camisole underneath it just encase it decided to got up when she raised her arms. :) Anyway, we got these in the men's department. That's pretty much the only way I can get clothes that fit, and, it's Batman. Doesn't get much better than that. :)

They're Not Pants

     Okay, so I was on Facebook the other day, and I saw one of my friends, who also has a modesty blog (it's at dressdownlookup.blogspot.com if you want to look it up) and she posted an article called "Leggings Aren't Pants". And I thought that it was an important topic that really needed mentioning. 

     So, I have a question, what exactly do leggings, jeggings, or pajama jeans do?  I mean, they are so skin tight, that it's basically just colored skin. I mean, they show off your curves so much that it's basically like you're wearing nothing. Another thing about it is, some girls will wear the tiniest skirt, and underneath it a pair of leggings. Okay, I'm sorry, but what's the difference? You're still showing every single detail of your body. Now, I have some leggings that are loose enough that I can wear them with a shorter skirt. So, if you have a loose pair of leggings, go ahead and wear them! There's nothing at all wrong with it. At that point they're just jeans made out of a different material. And sometimes, like I mentioned in a previous post, you have to wear something underneath a skirt. Like, when a skirt you wear goes just to your knees but you're afraid it'll ride up when you sit down, go ahead and wear them. Because the leggings will keep the skirt from riding up as much. :)

      Another good way to use leggings is for wearing under your skirt. I always try to make sure and wear something under my skirt, just encase I decide to go up some stairs. Some longer leggings will be great for that. They're also great for winter. Because you can wear them under your jeans, and they'll keep you warm. Leggings are my best friend when it comes to winter. :) 

     Thank you for reading, and please remember to share your favorite article and "like" Marvelously Modest on facebook! :)

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Very Pinteresting

     I love Pinterest. I love it love it love it! I get so many ideas for crafts, foods, funny pictures, and looking at work outs that sound so easy, but I never actually end up doing them. :) Pinterest, as all social websites, has it's pros and cons. Let's look at them.

     One of the things I love about Pinterest, is the DIY and Craft section. You can use that for so many wonderful, useful things to be productive. You can get so many ideas for card making if you like to send cards to widows, widowers, shut-ins, the sick, those who need encouragement, etc. Or, if you're not into sending cards, you can learn all these simple recipes and take food to people who are in need. Or maybe it'll give you some ideas on teaching a Bible class. When used correctly, Pinterest can be a very useful tool. And, sometimes I just like to re-pin some of the funny ones (but make sure they're clean first) just for a good laugh. :)

     One of the things I constantly get annoyed with however, is those pins of girls wearing close to nothing. Look, if you won't wear it, please don't re-pin it for everyone else to see. My mom ended up following this person, and she had no idea how. But they had some nice pins that she liked to look at. But later, my mom found out that she liked posting pictures of girls in bikinis. And my mom ended up having to stop following her. Because, what if my brother or my dad walked by while my mom was on? That would have effected their mind just as much as if they had seen you wear in tin real life. And I am so tired of girls, who dress so modestly, but post pictures of people not dressed modestly, or, even though they may not use those words, they post pictures with cuss words on them, and that is just as bad as doing it yourself, and you are still effecting the minds of others.

     So I encourage you girls, please, watch what you pin. :) Thank you for reading, and please don't forget to share your favorite post and "like" Marvelously Modest on Facebook (here's the linkhttp://www.facebook.com/MarvelouslyModest) :)

Friday, September 7, 2012

A Purity Ring A Promised Post

     Yesterday, I was at Red Lobster with my dad, celebrating my Birthday, (which is tomorrow) when he gave me my purity ring. A purity ring (encase you don't know what they are) is a promise and a reminder to you and your parents that you will remain pure. The ring goes on the engagement finger, and when you become engaged, the ring goes to the other hand, and when you're married, the father takes the ring off of the finger before he gives the bride away. Anyway, here's a picture of it. :)


And here's the picture I promised in the previous post. I have to wear a slip underneath it. Always make sure and look at it in the light before you wear it out in public so you don't have this problem. Anyway, here it is!

It's very hard to find slips, but I'm pretty sure they have them at JC Penny, or if you don't like to shop there, they have some at Macy's, Nordstrom, or if you can't find any there, they might have some online. Or, I have some friends who just put a lighter skirt underneath it. :) Happy hunting! :)


A Big Fat Modesty Oops

     Today I will be talking about a big fat modesty oops. There are several of them, and we should always check for these things before we walk out the door. I run into these things all the time. Clothes that you DON'T have to worry about are very hard to come by. 
 
     I'm going to try not to get too, out there when I say this, (because I know that it's not just girls who read my blog) but it's an important issue and I feel it needs to be addressed. When choosing your shirt, you have to make sure that your, underclothes, aren't too dark, and are thick enough. Especially with white shirts, and patterns. ALWAYS check for these things. I learned that the hard way. Always look in the sunlight, and ask an opinion if you can. The same goes with buying skirts. I have this really nice, colorful skirt that I bought a little over a year ago (I'll post pictures later). I really liked it, and it came with a little underskirt that I thought would cover everything. Luckily, my mom noticed that I still needed a slip underneath it before I went out in public. With most of the skirts you find in the stores, you absolutely have to make sure that it's not see-through, and you absolutely have to make sure your underclothes aren't too dark. And, I'd also suggest wearing a pair of shorts under your skirt, just encase you happen to go up any stairs.

      I hope I've helped. I know of a lot of girls who dress modestly, but make these embarrassing mistakes. Please remember this next time you go out the door. And please don't forget to share your favorite article. :)

Thursday, September 6, 2012

What Do You Do When You See Immodesty?

     When we go out in public, and see someone dressed immodestly, what do we do? Do we look away, do we pretend we never saw them? Well, no matter where you look, you're going to see it (unless you live in a small house in the middle of nowhere by yourself with no cable, cellphones, internet, or any connection with the outside world). But, in Genesis chapter 9:20-23 (from the ESV) says "(20) Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard. (21) He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. (22) And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. (23) Then Shem and Jepheth took a garment, laid it on their shoulders, and walked backward and covered and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward and they did not see their father's nakedness."

     Now, because of certain laws, people aren't allowed to go into public places without wearing any clothes. Well, most places anyway. But, they are allowed to wear "shorts" (which we all know they're just denim underwear covers) and a bikini top in public places. That's pretty close to it. It's kinda difficult to NOT see those things when you go out in public, but you should always do your best to not look. God will always give you a way out. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 it says, "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide a way of escape, that you will be able to endure it."

     Genesis 9:20-23 also means that no matter WHO it is, it's never okay to be dressed immodestly in front of them. Even if it's another girl. Please remember this next time you go out in public, and make sure and remember that if you just ask, God will give you a way out. Matt. 7:7, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it will be opened to you." Thank you for reading. And please don't forget to share. :)

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

FISHING!

Yesterday, I as asked to write an article like this one here: http://www.anthonysweat.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Why-Ch6.pdf I had read some like it before, so I figured I'd take a stab at it. :) 

     My brother, my dad, and I used to go fishing when I was little. I remember when I caught my first fish. I couldn't WAIT to go home and tell my mommy all about it! He was a small little guy,  but I couldn't have been more proud than if he weighed 25 lbs! He was my first fish, and I caught him all by myself. That was pretty much the only fish I caught. I was never really good at fishing no matter how hard I tried. But once, I was fishing for some catfish. I had the right bait, and I was reeling him in, when all of a sudden he comes off my hook. I was not pleased. But at least I caught him. :)

     Let me tell you something about catfish, the bait smells absolutely terrible, and the catfish will only go for his kind of bait. They're arrogant little fish, and they will not go for anything else. And only the catfish will go for it. Girls, the way we dress is our bait. Do we really want to be catfish bait? Do we really want to be the stinky bait that only the catfish will go for? By the way we dress, we can lure in any kind of fish we want. Please go for the best fish. Not the fish who only go for the stinky bait. :)

     I hope I explained this to you in the best way possible. :) And I hope you keep this in mind next time you get dressed. Please "like" Marvelously Modest on facebook, and don't forget to share your favorite article! Thank you for reading! :)

     

     

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

A New Goal! / A Modest Attitude

     Hello everyone! I have a new goal, and I'd like to share it with you! I am trying to get as many readers as I possibly can! As you can see when you look up at the top of my page, my numbers have gotten very high! And I am so VERY pleased with the amount of readers I've had! :D I wan't expecting it at all. So first of all, thank you very very much for reading my blog! I REALLY appreciate it! Second, I would like if you would please choose your favorite article on Marvelously Modest, and share it with someone! Weather through email, Facebook, twitter, ANYTHING! And share the news so we can get as many people reading as we can! Because, I REALLY want to help everyone I possibly can dress modestly! And who knows, maybe by sharing, you might help someone out! And that is the ULTIMATE goal! To get everyone that we possibly can dressing modestly! So please, go through and pick your FAVORITE article, and share it with someone! Also, I don't have a Twitter, but if you want, please "like" my page on Facebook, Marvelously Modest, (there's a link to it here:https://www.facebook.com/MarvelouslyModest) I would REALLY appreciate it!! :D

     Now on to today's article! :) Today, I would like to talk about having a modest attitude! Now, I'm not saying that we shouldn't praise ourselves every once in a while, that's a good thing! It means you're happy with who you are! BUT, sometimes, we can go a little bit too far with it. And that's not modest at all. Modesty isn't just in the clothes. It's also an attitude! From time to time, (and I have a hard time too with this sometimes) we tend to go a little bit too far when we complement ourselves. And we need to make sure that that doesn't happen. So, every day, before I go to bed, I do an attitude check and see what I need to improve on! First of all, I make sure that I didn't complement myself TOO much. Second, I make sure I complemented others even MORE! Third, I make sure I put others above myself in a place of respect. But I also make sure I respect myself as well. :) Fourth, I make sure I didn't grumble too much. I have the HARDEST time with grumbling! But it's not modest, because that's when we start forgetting that there are others who are suffering too. And that's never good. And Fifth, is I check and see if I only talked good about others. That can be very, very hard sometimes. Because sometimes, you just have the BEST information, and just HAVE to share it with someone. But I promise you, you don't. So, before you speak, think, is it important, is it helpful, is it necessary, is it kind, is it true, and is it humble? I try to keep this in mind when I speak, and I really hope you do too. Thank you very very much for reading, and please, feel free to share! :)

Monday, September 3, 2012

Modesty Emergencies!

     Yesterday, I was getting ready for worship services as fast as I possibly could, when I realized that the only dressy shirts I had were very low, and had to be layered. So I started looking for an undershirt. The only one I found, was one that I got specifically for when shirts aren't long enough, (because most of the time when I find an undershirt that in't too low, it's barely high enough) so it was a little low. And my mom didn't have any that would work either. So, being me and panicking when I realize that I have NOTHING to wear, I realized that I had SAFETY PINS! :D They're not just for crafting. What I did was I had my mom pin the straps of the camisole to my shirt so it wouldn't sink anymore. So, I suggest that for just such occasions, it might be smart to carry some around, just to make sure you can be modest at all times, and save yourself from embarrassment. BUT, what if you don't have any safety pins on hand? :)

     Yesterday, I was at a friend's house, and her older sister, very time I go over, has a bunch of clothes that don't fit her anymore, and sh so lovingly gives them to me, because I am about a size or two smaller than her. So, I was changing into another shirt that I had to have an undershirt with, but in doing so, lost the safety pins. So, what I suggest is, at the back, tie the straps/sleeves together. You can find string almost anywhere you look! The higher you tie them, the  higher your shirt will go. :)

     I hope I helped you in your quest to be modest. I know I have these emergencies all the time, and I thought I'd share a couple of my fixes, because I'm sure I'm not the only one who has these problems. :)