Scripture Sunday...

Photo taken while walking past an amazing horse farm in our area.

Dear Christian sisters...
 as we read through scripture and perhaps newly consider our wardrobe choices and roles as women...
let's allow the God of the universe - who led the 
Israelites straight through a deep sea on dry ground...
let's trust him to lead and guide us in these areas as well.  
What joy to walk the path He has for us... and not our own.

Enjoy this Lord's Day with Jesus ~ Joyce

Sweet Singing - In God Honoring Attire...

Sometimes you just need to 'see it' to be newly 

challenged to follow the Lord in every area.

Enjoy this singing video by a family that practices 

both headcovering and modesty.  And the songs? 

Precious songs of total surrender to the Lord and His Ways!!

Were you encouraged or newly resolved today?

Bless you!  ~Joyce

Scripture Sunday...

  ...The dome of our state capitol building in Harrisburg, PA.  

How I pray each of us would allow God's will to be done 

in our own lives. Changing hearts is how we change nations.

Kathy's Headcovering Testimony...

Today I'm sharing yet another testimony from a gal who is practicing the 

biblical mandate of headcovering.   I met Kathy on facebook and requested 

her permission to share it with you.  Her story begins with a question from her young daughter!   

Today - Kathy is joyfully obeying the scriptures in this area - 

even though she is 'alone' in her church.  Enjoy and be encouraged...

Three years ago, my then 11 year old daughter asked our pastor's wife about what Paul meant about modest dressing, roles of women and head covering. She told my daughter and I that these were "cultural" in nature and not a value for today. Both my daughter and I felt that this was a rather lame answer to a heart felt question on my daughter's part. My daughter and I talked about these issues together and decided that this could not possibly be truth. How can we decide what is "cultural" and what is not. What about order in the family, honoring parents, teachings on homosexuality, obedience to God etc. If modesty and head coverings were "cultural" then why are these other issues not "cultural". 

...After this I was perplexed and disturbed by the answer we got from said pastor's wife. We attend a charismatic non denominational church in rural mid west Minnesota.... I began to study the scripture for answers and asked the Holy Spirit to direct my path and give me direction as to dress, and head coverings. God had already dealt with me regarding obedience to Him in areas that are difficult, ie husband as head of family. My obedience in the home has been a blessing and God has honored my obedience. I was ready to take the next step. The Holy Spirit kept taking me to 1 Corinthians 11. I said "No not that" But God was not going to let me go that easily. He nipped at my heels until I was convinced that He was directing my path in this. I said "Ok' and my husband did not care one way or the other. 

I ordered a simple black snood and started wearing it about the house. It was January when I started and wearing a simple indoor crocheted hat indoors and at church was not a far stretch for me. As it is I am already kind of "weird' at church wearing mostly longer flowing skirts. People probably just thought it was another "Kathy oddity" . Wearing my scarf or wide head band etc began to feel so freeing and normal. I felt that the Angels were honoring me, I slept better, felt my prayers were more earnest and felt a peace about my life. I shared only with a couple people about my decision, they thought I was cracked although they did admit that it was a command in the bible. A command that was "cultural in nature". No one has asked me about it in 2 years!

I felt that if I started telling people they would think I was being too conservative, or pious, or weirder then usual. So, I just did not say anything and no one has asked. I am the ONLY one in church who wears dresses 90 % of the time and the only one who wears a head covering. I feel a freedom in Christ and am at the age that I really do not care what people think of me. The only one I need to honor is God then my husband....  Those of us ladies who have been called to obedience in head coverings need the encouragement of fellow sisters. We are bucking the trend not only in society but in our fellowships as well. Rejoice dear sisters you are not alone, we have God and the Angels on our side!!!

God bless you Kathy!  Thanks for allowing me to share your story.

Friends - following Jesus can be lonely - but this life is but a vapor.

 And we are not truly alone at all.  ~Joyce

Scripture Sunday....

Do you feel alone in your Christian walk and beliefs?  Sometimes we need 

to remind ourselves that no matter how lonely it feels - Jesus has promised 

to always be with us.  Cry out to Him!  Trust and know that He is with you and beside you. 

 Bask in His presence and experience His Peace - even amidst many tears.  

We are never alone or left on our own!

Spending time with Jesus always gives strength for the journey.

My love to you this day ~ Joyce

Riding Bicycle in a Skirt...

In my area - its not uncommon to see conservative Christian women  riding bicycle 

in a skirt.  But there are some challenges.  Namely - the skirt getting caught on 

bicycle parts when too long... or of course riding up as you move your legs.

But I'm encouraged to find this.... A company has come out with a 'bicycle skirt' 

that unzips for pedaling - and reveals not a slit (yeah!) - but more fabric!   
Altho - a fuller skirt to begin with would solve the problem. 
But at least this is a step in the right direction for mainstream society. 
And I love the charming photos! 

Source

And this dear blogger did a post on bicycling in skirts that I love as well.  

Her ideas?  Wear leggings underneath...

 Or maybe padded bike shorts which no one can even see!  By the way - 

you can do most anything in a fuller skirt that falls just below the knee.  

Plenty of room to move, full enough for layering, and isn't too long to be dangerous. 

Now - go bike your heart out and be modest too!

 

Source

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty... 2 Cor. 3:17 

- a freedom to please our Savior!

~Joyce

Distinctly Female - Does It Matter?

As a woman - how important is it to look like a woman?  Does God care about that?

  Let me offer some thoughts...

   

We have all grown quite accustomed to seeing women in pants.  

It has become a way of life.  But let me assure you when women first started 

wearing pants - it wasn't just the Christians who were in an up roar - 

it was seen as distinctly going into the male world. 

Now ladies - let me ask you - are you prepared to get accustomed to seeing men 

wear skirts?  When I see this (and I have!)- something within me cries 'no!' 

It's just 'wrong' and my spirit knows it.

  I don't want to get used to it!  And I pray you don't either.

Currently - our fashion industry is bringing feminine dress to the male population.  

These images are from a 2013 runway collection in London... 

(and yes - there is a decidedly homosexual emphasis here.)

Source for images

Are you surprised?  Satan loves to blur lines... to make things gray... 

to have us question 'hath God said?'.  Some refer to this as 'a slippery slope'.  

Trouble is - once you're headed down a slope - it's hard to stop - 

let alone turn around and go back up (think sledding down an icy hill!)  

Wouldn't it be better to not go down the hill to begin with?

I can assure you that in bible times - there was something very distinct about the 

female and male garments of that time -regardless of what teaching you may have heard.   

No Godly person would have tried to be gender confusing in their attire.  

After all - it was God who said  "A woman shall not wear that which pertaineth 

unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment; for whosoever 

doeth these things is an abomination unto Jehovah thy God."  Deut. 22:5  

When our appearance is not clearly different from our male counterparts - we are on a slippery slope. 

 (Yes, I realize there may be times or activities that call for pants to be worn - but this can 

still be done in a distinctly modest and feminine way as I've posted about earlier.)  

 As women - we are designed and created by God to be drawn to the opposite sex - 

not our own. 

The first thing another notices about us is our appearance.  What do we want to portray? 

  Homosexuality is not a new thing by any stretch of the imagination - but it is a sin.  

(God said it - not me!)

 I want to stay far removed from it.  Wearing unisex or gender neutral clothing, 

blurring the lines of distinction or crossing the lines all are dangerous territory.  

Certainly - Satan is smiling to himself as we become more

 'progressive' in our attire and churches.  I don't want him to smile at me!
(and my apologies for a longer post than usual...)