Standing Alone - A Great Thing For God...

Many of us want to do something great for God.
  There is much concern and effort put into trying to discover God's plan 
for our lives.  But this past week it occurred to me...

...what if the great thing God has for me to do is to simply be obedient 
to His Word?  What if my wearing a headcovering and dressing modestly 
is my great testimony for Him?  I was reminded of three certain 
young men from Israel and a big firey furnace. 
You know what they did for God?   They stood up (literally)!  
Among the whole assembly- they were the only three who obeyed.  
And they were willing to do so even if it cost them their lives!!  
This 'little incident' is the only thing we read about them in scripture.  
It was how they made God famous.  

I know many of you stand alone in your family, communities and church.  
I can relate to some degree... and it hurts, terribly.
  But the Christian life is not about us - it's about Jesus.  
And if He asks us to do something - can we be ready to do it - no matter what?
I trust that with God's help - the answer is 'yes'!

Standing with you.... ~Joyce

Scripture Sunday - The Heavens Declare...

Taken on the way home from church today

We're enjoying all the snow we're getting this year.

  The Psalms tell us that nature itself declares that there is a God.  

He is a God that desires our worship.   

He wants to be involved in the most intimate details of our lives. 

Let us say with the Psalmist...

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer."

Psalms 19:14

An Awesome Headcovering Teaching...

This morning I was blessed to have some time to listen  

to this sermon on the teaching of headcovering.  

It is the first message on the page the link will direct you to.
(If you have trouble opening it - try clicking on the download link on the right hand side.)

from WengerMinistries.org

Good stuff and answers every strong argument I have ever heard 

against headcovering - in one sense or another.

Let me know if you listen to it and still have questions.  

May the Lord give us willing hearts to obey Him this day ~Joyce

A Modest Wedding...

We attended a beautiful wedding this past weekend.

  I loved everything about it.  But I for sure wanted to show you the 

bride's modest wedding gown.  It was handmade, simple and gorgeous!

This wedding was not outrageously extravagant - 
but loveliness was everywhere (just perfect!) ...

The Lord bless you my friends...

To see more of this lovely wedding... visit the post at my other blog - Quilted Nest Antiques.

Changing For Jesus...

I am currently reading a book that you may find encouraging 

on your modesty and headcovering journey....

'From Street Lights to Stars' is the true story of Becky McGurrin.  

Raised catholic - she was greatly influenced at a

 young age by a simple but sobering poem...

If Jesus came to your House

If Jesus came to your house
To spend some time with you,
If He came unexpected,
I wonder what you’d do.

Oh, I know you’d give your nicest room
To such an honored guest
And all the food you’d give to Him
Would be the very best.

And you would keep assuring Him
You’re glad to have Him there–
That serving Him in your home
Is joy beyond compare.

But when you saw Him coming,
Would you meet Him at the door
With arms outstretched in welcome
To your heavenly visitor?

Or would you have to change your clothes
Before you let Him in
Or hide some magazines
And put the Bible where they’d been

Would you hide your worldly music
and put some hymn books out?
Could you let Jesus walk right
in, or would you rush about?

And I wonder – if the Saviour
spent a day or two with you,
Would you go right on doing, the
things you always do?

Would you go right on saying, the
things you always say?
Or would life for you continue
as it does from day to day?

Would you take Jesus with you
everywhere you go?
Or would you maybe change your
plans for just a day or so?

Would you be glad to have Him
meet your closest friends?
Or would you hope they stay away,
until His visit ends?

Would you be glad to have Him
stay forever on and on?
Or would you sigh with great
relief when He at last was gone?

It might be interesting to know,
the things that you would do,
If Jesus came in person, to spend
some time with you.

This led to her making changes in her heart and lifestyle - 

even wardrobe changes.  She, her husband and family 

moved to Virginia to be among others who believed

 and practiced similar things.  

In 1998 - she and some friends were visiting the

 White House when a gunman opened fire.  She tells of the 

protection - related to her new headcovering - that she felt 

as she hid behind a pillar in the direct line of fire.

  (The pillar was glazed by a bullet.) 

She also talks about how she relates to her old friends - 
 a challenge for most of us at times.

You can find the book here and here and here.

  Incidentally - that 2nd link?  She and her husband

 work for that company writing 

homeschool curriculum and more.

Be Blessed ~ Joyce 

Disobedience, Sin, Headcovering and Modesty...

We can conclude many things as it relates to how we view our bibles.

  I've heard for example that 'we all sin - and sin is sin so who are you

 to judge me?'   Or 'I don't see not wearing a head covering as a 

sin issue - it's what's in my heart that counts.'   To these 

types of comments I say 'Really?  What makes something a sin?'

Isn't sin when I go against God?  Isn't sin me trying to do it my way

 instead of God's way?  Isn't 'disobedience' a sin?  

In I John 3 there are some sobering words...

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.

 For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, 

that he might destroy the works of the devil.

 

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him:

 and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

I did not say these words - God did!    Yes,  God. 

To put it another way or as I've heard already - to act

 against God's ways is to align myself with Satan.  

Ouch!   

There are only 2 ways... and my way isn't a 3rd way - it's Satan's way.  

I don't want to align myself with the devil.

I can't say for sure if these verses are referring to a

 continual practice of sin - or committing a single sin.  

To be conservative we'll say they for sure mean living in a practice 

or continuation of sin.  If we choose to not obey or 'see' a scripture 

or do it our way instead of God's - we are living in a continual state 

of sin called disobedience.  That's pretty serious.

   Friends - God has called us to some simple commands

that relate to our attire... simple - but I realize not easy.  

Neither is it easy to forgive or love our enemies - but all of the 

'the church' agrees God has commanded these hard heart things.

Let us also submit to His teachings to wear modest apparel and 

cover our heads when we pray and prophesy.  

I don't want to be 'of the devil'... and I'm sure you don't either.

And if there's any question regarding if God calls disobedience sin - see
Rom. 5:19; Eph. 2:2, 5:6; Col. 3:6; Heb. 4:6,11

Have courage - obedience is a beautiful thing!

~Joyce