Thrifty Modest Outfit Thursday...

We'll see how long I can keep this up - but for now -

I thought I could share one outfit a week with you.

  Keep in mind - I'm a 'thrifter' - so most everything

 will be from thrift shops and yard sales.  

In other words - I'm hoping to share that modesty is budget friendly!

So what do we have here?  (And I realize I'm no model!)

The skirt is really a jumper.  I wore a 'new to me' gold 

long-sleeved tee over it to make it look like a maxi skirt.  

Those two alone looked a little boring - so a white dressy 

sweater helped.  The scarf is a narrow long scarf 

that I tied to look like an infinity scarf.  

It could be a little longer - but who's checking?

Gold and yellow seem to be colors that are surfacing right now.  

Gold works with my skin and hair.  Yellow?  Not so much.  

Now I'm not saying we need to try to be 'fashionable'.  

But somewhat current and modest works for me.  

I never run out and get the latest thing to try to fit in.  

But I don't purposely avoid what someone else might wear either -

 if it's God-honoring.  (Hope that makes sense).  

The jumper is probably from the 80s!  I have no idea the price 

I paid for this outfit - but most of my clothing is 

under $4 for a piece - yes really.

The shoes may have been new from Old Navy - 

and I think I paid around $10 for them 'on sale'.  

I loved them - they were comfy - and I knew I'd wear them alot!   

I love modesty and creating little outfits.  

It's a bit of a hobby I guess - sort of like decorating my home. 

Honor God with what you wear today! ~Joyce

Why Modesty Is Such a Big Deal...

There is so much information thrown around about modesty.  

It gets overwhelming and kinda 'old' at the same time.  

I've even seen articles about the 'idolatry of modesty'

 which suggest that anything we pay too much attention 

to can be an idol and thus 'not good'.  Oh boy...

May I just share what to me is one glaring reason why modesty 

needs to be a huge deal?  Because immodesty can make someone 

stumble... as in sensually desire someone that is not their wife.  

And Jesus calls lusting after someone that is not their wife 'adultery'. Matt. 5:28.  

  Now we can say that a man needs to have the 

responsibility of guarding his eyes and thought life.   And of course - this is true.  

After all - a girl can be dressed entirely properly and

 a guy can still have an impure thought when he looks at her -  

if that is his intent. 

But for us women - Jesus has a very pointed and plain truth we need to consider.  

He said in Luke 17:1 that offences or things that cause people 

to stumble exist - but 'woe' to the person through whom they exist.  

We do not want to get a 'woe' from Jesus.   To get an idea 

of how strong this language is - later in Luke 22:22

 Jesus uses this same word to pronounce judgment 

on the man who betrays Jesus. 

Uh oh - we don't want to be in that camp.

Like it or not - we, as girls, do have a responsibility.

  There should be no reason why a godly girl would

 want to be sensually enticing in public. 

That being said - I don't see anywhere that we can't be a woman 

of beauty.  God loves beauty - just look at his flowers. 

And God made women naturally beautiful with a natural 

desire to be attractive.  But anytime - any time - we publicly 

accentuate or reveal (through tightness, drawing attention to, 

accenting, nakedness etc.) an area of sensual beauty - we err.  

Rather - let's go forth with a pure and modest beauty.  

I'm pretty sure we all know the difference...

Walk in beauty today!  ~Joyce

A Testimony of Modesty & Leaving the World Behind...

Lorna has been blogging her journey with the Lord over at The Brown Brink.  

It's a lovely journey.  Her spirit is so sweet, so willing and the 

Lord is truly visible in their lives.   And... they are going it alone...

...never completely alone because they have the Lord - 

but alone in that their church fellowship does not

 fully share their hearts' beliefs.  

Her latest post shares more of her journey as it relates to her attire.  

I'm thinking that more and more we're needing to get used to 

this 'alone' thing.  Yet God is stirring up a remnant.

  And thanks to the wonders of technology - we can be 'alone'...together!

Be blessed!   ~Joyce

Together In Unity - Scripture Sunday...

Lake at Mount Gretna, PA

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! 

 Psalm 133:1

While this may sound like an easy scripture to follow... 

I recognize that it can be difficult at times.

Hopefully we are truly showing honor to one another

 and treating each other with love and respect.  

But when we interpret scripture differently and each feel that

 'our view' is the right one - that's when it can get sticky. 

May God give us grace in these times too.  Let us keep studying 

and have humble hearts to hear God's truth on any given subject.  

And may we each do whatever His Spirit and Word teach us to do.

(His Spirit will never contradict His Word.)

Always Seeking...  ~Joyce

 

Another Headcovering Testimony...

Today I discovered the sweet blog of  Nikka.  She is from the Philippines 

and she practices head covering in accordance with I Cor. 11.

She started covering for church services only. 

(actually - she is a born-again Catholic - so it is Mass for her.)

But now she wears scarves and bandanas all through out the week. 

 I just love her sweet obedience and her changed heart of being

more submissive and respectful to her husband.  

Go read all about how she grew in this area on her Why I Cover My Head post.

From Immodest Maxi Dress to Modest Maxi Skirt...

One of my finds on my recent thrifting trip was a knit fabric maxi dress.  

It was the sleeveless - elastic across the bust kind.  But the colors were wonderful.  In fact, as I walked around the store with it hanging on my shoulder - 

several people commented that those were 'good colors' for me.  

So for $5 - home it came.  I figured I could transform it into a skirt.

Step 1 - cut off the elastic top.

 Step 2 - lay another maxi skirt, that fits, on top for a length estimate... 

 chop some more off the top of the non-elastic skirt portion.

 Step 3 - sew a large running stitch all the way around the top 

of the non elastic skirt portion.  

(tip - I sewed 2 running stitches - one between each side seam.  This made it easier to work with.)  

Pull the back thread of the running stitch to gather the fabric 

till it fits into the elastic portion.  Stitch together - 

with skirt inside out and right sides together.

 Step 4 - The elastic portion was just too deep for my waist - 

so I sewed it in half.  

(folded it down and sewed it onto the seam where the elastic portion meets the bottom part.) 

A new upcycled maxi skirt for me!  In great colors!

  (Sorry - the colors in this photo are very off...

nighttime indoor photography at its finest.)